Rehab facility could mean changes for Self Regional

July 16, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

With the possibility of a new comprehensive rehabilitation hospital coming to the Greenwood area, officials say it likely will be months before they know the full effects the new hospital will have on Self Regional Healthcare. The new 40-bed facility, which would be built by Ernest Health Inc., an Albuquerque, N.M., firm, would offer Lakelands area residents acute inpatient rehabilitation during and after injuries or illnesses.
Joel Grice, director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Bureau of Health Facilities and Services, said the Lakelands currently does not have a facility that can offer this level of comprehensive care.
“Comprehensive rehabilitation is one of the larger needs in the state,” he said. “Of the state’s 12 service areas, this area is one of only two that have no facilities.”
Grice said patients currently have to travel as far as Spartanburg or Greenville to receive the type of care the new hospital could provide.
Before the hospital can be built, however, Grice said Ernest Health must apply for a Certificate of Need, which demonstrates a need for such a facility in the area, and the application must be reviewed and approved by DHEC. Once approved, the company can begin construction on the facility, and Grice said the new hospital could be completed by 2007.
Of the rehabilitation hospital’s 40 beds, six beds would be used for skilled nursing care.
Self Regional Medical Center currently houses 27 skilled nursing care beds in its Transitional Care Unit (TCU), which has been open since 1997.
Because the new hospital could offer the same services, Fred Latham, executive vice president and COO with Self Regional, said changes likely will take place in the TCU.
“The TCU will look different. It may not exist or function as it does today,” he said. “We wanted to be open with the community and the staff and give them the possibility that the TCU may not be there in the future.”
Patients treated in the TCU would instead be admitted to the new rehabilitation hospital. Self Regional has said it would continue to provide outpatient rehabilitation services through its Optimum Life Center.
Because the hospital has not yet received approval, Latham said there are no definitive plans about the unit’s future. Latham said Self Regional has voiced its support for the rehabilitation facility. If changes are made, he said officials will work to ensure the transition will be smooth for employees.
Latham said separate comprehensive rehabilitation hospitals are common in communities with general medical hospitals. He said the new facility could employ more than 100 people.
“We’re really proud of our employees, and we’re proud of the service we have provided since 1997 and are providing today in our (Transitional Care Unit),” he said. “I have to believe that, between what Ernest is going to hire and what the hospital’s needs are, it’s all going to sort out.”

Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

Colie Brooks

SALUDA – Colie Julian Brooks, 82, of the Hollywood Community, died Thursday, July 14, 2005, at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Saluda County and a son of the late Colie C. and Martha Anna Berry Brooks, he was the husband of Dalice Oswalt Brooks. Mr. Brooks was a US Army veteran of World War II. He served in Company B, 47th Infantry in the Normandy Campaign and was wounded in action on July 16, 1944 at St. Lo, France for which he received the Purple Heart. Mr. Brooks was a retired Well Driller and was a member of Salem Baptist Church.
Surviving is his wife, Dalice Oswalt Brooks, one son and daughter-in-law, Phillip M. and Geralyn Fulmer Brooks of Waterloo, one daughter, Margaret Brooks Faulkner of Lexington, one sister, Lona Brooks Priester of Hampton and four grandchildren, Banks Faulkner, Brooke Faulkner, Wesley Brooks and Carianne Brooks Overton and her husband Wilson B. Overton, III. He is also survived by special friends, Hoyt and Dot Gibson.
Funeral services will be 3:00 PM Sunday, July 17, 2005, at Salem Baptist Church with Rev. Rod Elliott officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 PM Saturday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Salem Baptist Church, 2226 Denny Highway, Saluda, SC 29138.
PAID OBITUARY

Ruben Bryant

JAMAICA, N.Y. —Ruben Bryant, 79, died Thursday, July 14, 2005 in Jamaica.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., he was a son of the late Ulysses Sr. and Annie Lee Bryant.
Survivors include a son, Willie R. Bryant of Detroit; a daughter, Darlene Bryant of Fredericksburg, Va.; three sisters, Dollie P. Alexander and Annie Marshburn, both of Greenwood and Elizabeth Jones of Detroit; three brothers, Leroy Bryant and Isaac Bryant, both of Greenwood and Julian Bryant of Vienna, Va. The family is at the home of a sister, Dollie P. Alexander, 117 S. University St., Greenwood.
Service arrangements are incomplete.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.

Rykevious Coates

WARE SHOALS — Rykevious Deion Coates, 7, of 55 E. Cork St., Apt. A, died Thursday, July 14, 2005 at his home. Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Lekesha Mansel and Reginald Coates. He completed first grade at Ware Shoals Primary School.
Survivors include his mother of Ware Shoals; his father of Ware Shoals; a sister, Tikesha LaShay Whitfield of Ware Shoals; grandparents, Issie Mansel of Ware Shoals, David Mansel of Greenville, Junior and Gwendolyn Whitfield of Ware Shoals; great-grandparents, Joe and Lula Mansfield of Ware Shoals; Savannah Rice of Laurens.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Little River Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Sylvester Jackson, Eliza Ballentine and Thomas Sloan, Minister Rodney Butler and Prophetess Sampson. Burial is in Christian Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Fredrick Mansel, Irvin Jones, Alonda Mosley, Jerrold Mansel, Travis Mansel and Domonic Coates.
Flower bearers are Jervorah Whitfield, Kanata Mosley, Valeria Evans, Andrea Faire, Denecka Agnew, Kimyatta Hughes, Nydra Edwards, Yashekia Lomax, Shada Mosley, Missy Smiley, Shanae Coates and Alicia Coates.
Viewing begins at noon today at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service.
The family is at the home.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service is in charge.

John A. Thompson

WARE SHOALS – John A. Thompson, 93, widower of Margie Louise Clamp Thompson died Thursday, July 14, 2005 at the Hospice House of Greenwood. He was born in Greenville County, a son of the late John B. and Lillie Mae Estes Thompson. He was retired from Riegel Textile Corporation after fifty five years and member of Quarter Century Club.
Mr. Thompson was a member and former deacon of Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church.
Surviving are one son, Walter E. Thompson, Ware Shoals; three daughters, Judy Hall, Ninety Six, Amanda Thompson, Ware Shoals, Paullet Kirkpatrick, Donalds, S.C.; one brother, Otis Thompson, Honea Path, S.C.; one step-sister, Linda Ross, Pelzer; five grandchildren, Steve Cann, Cathy Hodges, Greg Thompson, Joey Thompson, Kristy Land-messer and three great-grandchildren, Austin and Amanda Hodges and Sydney Thompson.
He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Robbie Cann and Paul Kirkpatrick.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, 2 PM at Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop and Rev. T.T. Faucette. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Greg Thompson, Joey Thompson, Steve Cann, Ken Hodges, Austin Hodges, and Jason Landmesser. The honorary escort will be members of the Men’s Adult Sunday School Class and Deacons of Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church.
The family is at the home of Amanda Thompson, 332 Hembree Road, with whom he made his home and will receive friends Saturday, 6-8 PM at Parker-White Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church, 11828 Indian Mound Road, Ware Shoals, SC 29692.
PAID OBITUARY

Willie ‘Sonny’ Wideman

HODGES — Willie Noble “Sonny” Wideman, 62, of 118 Embassy Court, widower of Edna Mae Gaskin Wideman, died Wednesday, July 13, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late Ebbie and Louella Tolbert Wideman. He was a construction worker with G.E. Moore Construction Co. for more than 40 years. A member of Holy Springs Baptist Church, he served as Deacon Board chairman and was a member of 100 Men in Black and a former Mason.
Survivors include two brothers, T.J. Wideman and Jessie Earl Wideman, both of Philadelphia; two sisters, Geneva Robinson of Greenwood and Ebbie Lou Mansel of Hodges; a niece reared in the home, Betty Wideman Carroll of Hodges. The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Lander names Bill Jarman baseball coach

July 16, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Lander University ended its search for a new baseball coach Friday when Bill Jarman was named to lead the program. Jarman arrives at Lander from Coastal Carolina University, where for 10 years he served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Chanticleers.
Before his time at Coastal, he spent six years as an assistant coach at Western Carolina University, including a stint under head coach Jack Leggett, now the coach at Clemson University.
Jarman takes over for Mike McGuire, who resigned as Lander’s coach last month.
The Bearcats considered more than 100 candidates for the position, said Athletic Director Jeff May. For Jarman, the process of leaving Coastal and coming to the Bearcats has been somewhat of a whirlwind.
“I hadn’t even spoken with Jeff May until last Thursday (July 7),” said Jarman, who coached seven pitchers at Coastal Carolina that went on to play in the pros. “I thought a little bit about it last weekend, then came up to the Lander campus for the first time on Monday.”
Jarman said after nearly 18 years as an assistant coach, he is ready for the new challenges and decisions being a head coach at the college level brings.
Lander’s commitment to winning and to student-athletes were aspects Jarman said appealed to him during the interviewing process.
May spoke highly of the newly appointed coach.
“We are pleased that Bill Jarman will lead the Lander baseball program,” May said. “Coach Jarman is a quality individual and one of the most respected coaches in the game. He has an excellent reputation recruiting top-notch student-athletes.”
Jarman said the Bearcats will be competitive immediately.
“Coach McGuire left this program in excellent shape,” said Jarman, who helped coach Coastal Carolina into the NCAA Regionals in 2005.
“We have the facilities and the campus we need to bring in some great recruits. Jeff (May) made it clear to me that Lander is committed to having an outstanding program. I believe we will.”
Jarman said a long conversation with former Lander coach Rusty Stroupe went a long way toward helping him make his decision. According to Jarman, it was Stroupe’s effusive praise for Lander, Greenwood and the Peach Belt Conference that helped seal the deal.
Jarman will be joined in Greenwood by his five year-old son Dock. Jarman said Dock doesn’t care where his dad coaches as long as there is a baseball field around.
Jarman said he was pleasantly surprised everything came together so fast.
“Things are a little hectic right now,” Jarman said. “It all came about so quickly. But the opportunity is tremendous. When I sat down and discussed this with people close to me, I realized that Lander is a very attractive situation with great people to work with. It is a great opportunity to be successful.
“I am just excited to get started.”

Chris Trainor covers area sports for the Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com

Contrast in goals shows major humane difference

July 16, 2005

Nothing demonstrates the difference between terrorists and the people of the industrial nations of the world more than their respective goals. The difference is so great, in fact, even the children of South Carolina ought to be able to see it. Certainly adults should.
Actually, it’s not all that difficult. The industrial nations, those that make up the G-8 summit that met last week in Gleneagles, Scotland, make the point. One of the primary efforts of the G-8 summit was to help African nations lift themselves out of the debilitating poverty that is endemic to much of that continent. They would put up billions of dollars to help Africa, but it wouldn’t be charity. It would be aid to help nations help themselves.

ANOTHER PRIMARY CONSIDERATION at the summit was cleaning up the environment by controlling industrial emissions that foul the air. The U. S. has refused to sign an agreement for a very good reason. New controls under that pact would cramp our industry but do nothing to make China and India, for example, control their industrial emissions. Those two nations are, by the way, two of the biggest industrial polluters in the world, and as they grow will become even more of a problem.
So, then, the G-8 group works to help nations help themselves, in a variety of ways, including facilitating ways to grow and to open trade opportunities for them.
Terrorists, on the other hand, do one thing: terrorize. They do that by cowardly killing the innocent. Who or what they are doesn’t matter. They all die at the hands of suicide bombers and other forms of mass murder.


OF COURSE, EVER SINCE THE beginning of the G-8 summit, there have been rioting and protests at the meeting sites, regardless of where they have been. There have been several meetings, all in different countries, but the protests, and apparently many of the protesters, have been the same. That would seem to indicate an organized and well-planned effort to undermine the progress of G-8 talks.
G-8 members are prosperous nations, to be sure, and their talks also include enhancing their own economic interests. That’s economic wisdom at work, and obviously necessary in a changing world where “global economy” has become more than a catch phrase. Considering the humanitarian intent of its efforts, though, how could they be able to help others if they let themselves falter?
Terror is inhumane. Economic aid to fight poverty is humane. The difference really isn’t hard to notice.