Message in a bottle found 2 years later, just 40 miles away

July 8, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Two years ago, Andrew Harlow slipped a message into a bottle and tossed it into the Atlantic Ocean.
This past May, he received a response.
In October 2003, Harlow, then a fifth-grade student at Oakland Elementary School in Greenwood, traveled to Myrtle Beach on a class field trip to study marine life and ocean currents.
As part of an attempt to study how energy travels through the ocean’s tides, Harlow and his fellow classmates scribbled short messages about their experiment on a piece of paper and sealed the notes in plastic bottles.
“The experiment was to observe the bottles to see the direction of (the ocean’s) flow,” said Caroline Whitmire, a teacher at Oakland and Harlow’s teacher at the time of the experiment.
“The mystery of the experiment is what really intrigued the students. They wondered if they would hear a response from it – who would answer it and where would they be?”
With his hand-written note tucked safely inside, Harlow’s bottle traveled nearly 40 miles down the S.C. coast, eventually finding its way onto the banks of a salt marsh creek in Georgetown.
In late May 2005, more than a year and a half after the experiment, a team of marine scientists with the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve discovered the bottle while performing a “marsh sweep” in the area.
“We were amazed to find it. We couldn’t believe how old the message was, and we were very curious about where it had been put into the ocean,” said Beth Thomas, education coordinator with the reserve. “It was really unusual because it was found so far up in a little tidal creek. It’s really hard for objects to meander that far.”
Thomas said the bottle likely found its way into the marsh by riding southerly currents just off the coastline. Though she doesn’t know how long it had been in the marsh, Thomas said the bottle was still in excellent shape.
“We did find a bottle once before, but it was many years ago. We were all very excited to find this one, and we were impressed that the school had thought of such a neat project,” Thomas said.
Just days after finding the message, Thomas mailed a response – and a map of the area where the bottle was found – back to the school.
In the years that Whitmire has performed the experiment with her students, she said only three bottles have gotten a response.
When Whitmire received the reply several weeks ago, she immediately notified Harlow, 12, now a 7th grade student at Northside Middle School.
“I was excited. I knew someone was going to find it,” Harlow said, but he added that, after nearly two years, he had almost given up hope of a response. “I thought maybe a whale had eaten it.”
Harlow said he plans to write a letter to Thomas thanking her for her reply.

Post 20 roughed up at home

Greenwood suffers second straight defeat in loss to Belton

July 8, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood American Legion Post 20 baseball team lost 15-5 in seven innings to Belton Thursday night at Legion Field.
The game was called in the seventh inning because of the 10-run mercy rule. With the loss, Greenwood dropped to 10-8 overall and 8-7 in League VII play. The team can still clinch second place in the league with a win at 7:30 tonight in Walhalla.
“I told the guys to forget about this one because when we meet Walhalla tomorrow night, the score will be 0-0,” Post 20 coach Billy Dean Minor said.
“If we were to lose, there could be a tie for second place, and we’d have to play a tiebreaker. But we can eliminate all that by going up there and getting the win.”
Nick Milford took the loss for Greenwood, giving up seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, striking out one.
Belton got off to a quick start in the contest. Belton’s Blair Carson ripped a double into the gap in right-center field.
Two batters later, Belton designated hitter Zack Snipes smashed a towering two-run home run over the left field wall, putting Greenwood in a 2-0 hole.
Belton kept the heat on Post 20 in the second inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Carson would trouble Milford once again.
Carson banged double off the center field wall, clearing the bases and putting Belton on top 5-0, heading into the bottom half of the second.
Post 20 clawed back into the game in the bottom of the second. Clint Burden came around to score on a single by Justin Jenkins to close the score to 5-1.
Later in the second inning, Jenkins scored a run on Milton Brown’s infield single. The RBI made the score 5-2 Belton.
Belton exploded in the top of the fourth. Snipes picked up two RBIs on a single to right field, putting Belton up 7-2.
Belton tacked on two more runs when Cory Tysol popped a hit up the middle and scored two Belton runners, placing Greenwood in a 9-2 deficit.
After Will Gary came on in relief of Milford for Post 20 later in the fourth, Carson struck again. The Belton shorstop nailed a base clearing three-run double to put Belton on top 13-2. The score would go to 14-2 in favor of Belton before the half-inning was over.
Post 20, determined not to go quietly, tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Josh Lovvorn scored from second on a looping single by Kyle Behrendt. The score made the count 14-3.
Greenwood continued the tough climb back in the bottom of the fifth.
Justin Lovvorn knocked a single to right field, plating Clint Burden and Milford to cut Belton’s lead to 14-5.
Belton added to its already substantial lead in the top of the seventh. B.J. Scarborough reached third with a bunt on a throwing error by Greenwood pitcher Justin Lovvorn.
On the next pitch Justin Lovvorn uncorked a wild throw that got past catcher Josh Lovvorn, bringing Scarborough to the plate. Belton was on top 15-5 at the end of the frame.
Greenwood attempted to prevent the 10-run rule from taking effect in the bottom of the seventh inning. Josh Lovvorn popped a single and took second base on a wild pitch. The prospective charge would fizzle, however, when Milton Brown flied softly to right field, ending the game.
The game was an unevenly played affair marred by errors and an eye-popping nine hit batsmen between the two teams.
“I don’t think anyone was throwing at people intentionally,” Minor said. “It was just one of those things.”
Minor remains optimistic about Post 20’s chances heading into the state playoffs.
“We just need to go over to Walhalla and win tomorrow night,” Minor said. “If we do that then the playoff seeding takes care of itself.”

Opinion

Appeasement of terrorists would not be a solution

July 8, 2005

It was only a matter of time before terrorists struck their city, Londoners believed. Then they did, killing scores of people and injuring others by the hundreds.
When they set off bombs in several locations around London Thursday, it obviously didn’t matter to the terrorists who or how many they killed. Color of skin didn’t matter. Neither did age, gender, national origin or, and this is more revealing of the attitudes of the terrorists, religion. They killed indiscriminately, whether victims were Catholic or Baptist or Jew or Buddhist or Muslim or anything in between. They all died.
That should tell any thinking person that terrorists are extremists that cannot be approached with reason. They use violence strategically and tactically. They use it as a weapon against the rest of the world, and that’s apparently all they understand.

SO THE U.S., GREAT BRITAIN and many other nations really have no choice but to take the fight to terrorists, regardless of their locations.
There are, nevertheless, some people, whether in South Carolina or South Wales, who believe that if we stop fighting terrorists, they will respond in kind. That’s a foolhardy notion. Terrorists have no honor. They have no rules. They have no borders. They have no concern for anyone except themselves. They turn on their own people if it serves terrorists’ bloody interests.
History proves, many times over, that giving in to demands of extremists only feeds their aggressiveness. Appeasement only encourages them to use the same kind of leverage, again and again, to force others to meet their demands.

A GOOD EXAMPLE WAS England’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement toward Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain believed that war could be prevented by meeting some of the demands of the fascist dictator. It only fed his appetite for conquest and the rest, as they say, is history.
Give in to terrorists and they’ll only want more ….. and will use violence as a means to their end.
It’s not simply a problem for the U. S., either. It’s a world problem and no one is immune to terror attacks. If there were any doubts, the bombings in London proves the point. The biggest problem, though, is and will be some who advocate leaving terrorists alone and expect them to reciprocate. That kind of folly is a lesson history has repeatedly taught. Some have learned it, too many haven’t.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Bennie L. Allen

ABBEVILLE — Bennie L. Allen, 61, of 188 Union Church Road, husband of Annie Cowan Allen, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Elberton, Ga., he was a son of the late Robert and Odessa Alexander Allen. He was a Vietnam War veteran, textile worker and member of Faith Tabernacle Interdenominational Church, Lincolnton, Ga.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Gary Cowan of Greenville; a daughter, Sherwan Allen Smith of Greenwood; five brothers, Robert Allen Jr., Fred Allen and Joe Allen, all of Elberton, Gary Allen of Atlanta, Gene Allen of Houston; six sisters, Garnett Sermons of Valdosta, Ga., Judy Pittard, Vickie Allen, Elizabeth Huff, Charlotte Harper and Ethel Ruth Allen, all of Elberton; three grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Glovers A.M.E. Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Delcinia Jamison, assisted by the Rev. Larry Merrill. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Abbeville-White Mortuary is in charge.

‘Bud’ Andrews

Elbert D. “Bud” Andrews Jr., 74, of 225 Melrose Terrace, died Thursday, July 7, 2005 at his home.
Graveside services are 4 p.m. Sunday at Edgewood Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Sam Thomason.
Visitation is at the home after the services.
Harley Funeral Home is charge.

Verda S. Arnold

HODGES — Services for Verda S. Arnold are at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Cokesbury, conducted by the Rev. Cornell Richardson, assisted by the Rev. Harold Chapman, pastor and the Revs. Amos Harling and Larry Nelson. Burial is in The Evening Star. The body will be placed in the church at noon.
Pallbearers are grandsons, and flower bearers are granddaughters.
The family is at the home, 3323 Cokesbury Road.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.

Maxine Bledsoe

Johnston, SC — Maxine Perry Bledsoe, 57, of 1610 Pencreek Rd., Johnston, SC died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Saluda County, January 29, 1948, she was the daughter of Maxcy and Doris Perry of Saluda, she was the wife of Monte Thomas Bledsoe. For the past thirty years, she has been employed by Mount Vernon Mills in Johnston.
Surviving, in addition to her parents, are her husband, Monte Thomas Bledsoe and a son, Micheal “Scott” Bledsoe, four sisters, Wanda Perry and Rhonda Cockrell of Ninety-Six, Joyce Rude and Donna Tarlton of Saluda and two brothers, Lavern Perry of Saluda and Mike Perry of Ninety-Six.
The family is at the home of her son, 1636 Pencreek Road.
A Graveside service will be 3 PM, Saturday, July 9, 2005 at Rocky Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Danny Swinnea officiating.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM, Friday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
PAID OBITUARY

Annie Mae Burton

Graveside services for Annie Mae Williams Burton, formerly of Greenwood, are 11 a.m. Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, Ninety Six, conducted by the Rev. Dr. E.L. Cain.
The family is at the home of a niece, 704-B Green St.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Billie Carroll

ABBEVILLE — Billie Payne Carroll, 73, of 3727 Pinewood Drive, Loris, formerly of Abbeville, wife of James Patrick “Pat” Carroll Sr., died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Loris Community Hospital.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late W.S. “Bill” and Rilla Farmer Payne. She was a retired administrative assistant to the county engineer, Aiken County. She was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a son, James “Jimmy” Patrick Carroll II of Greer; twin sisters, Frances Knight of Oglethorpe, Ga., and Betty Hilley of Greer; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 3 p.m. Sunday in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Tye Sorrow.
Visitation is 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday at Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of Mrs. Freddie Taylor, 109 Moore St., Abbeville.
Memorials may be made to Megan Conner Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o BB&T Bank, 4207 Main St., Loris, SC 29569.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Eileen Carter

NINETY SIX — Eileen Kelley Carter, 90, formerly of Pratt Drive, widow of Henry Sumter Carter, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Wesley Commons Health Care Center.
Born in Oconee County, she was a daughter of the late General Ilar and Myrtle Smith Kelley. She was a 1931 Keowee High School honor graduate and retired from the Ninety Six Post Office. A member of Ninety Six First Baptist Church, she was also a member of the TEL Sunday School Class, a former Sunday school teacher, choir member and a leader of the Sunbeam and GA’s.
Survivors include a sister, Beth Clolery of Connecticut.
Services are 4 p.m. Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Chuck Sprouse and Carol Peppers-Wray. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Eddie Carter, Sam Drummond, Charles Slack, Miles Moss, George Reid, Mack Reid and Tommy Price.
Honorary escorts are members of Ninety Six First Baptist Church choir, the TEL Sunday school class, along with Roy Beasley, Denise Riser, Dawn Orr, Dale Bagwell, Darryl Drummond, John Drummond and Ernest Turner Jr.
Visitation is 3-4 Saturday at the funeral home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to Ninety Six First Baptist Church, 205 N. Church St., Ninety Six, SC 29666.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Faye Hughes Fox

MARION, NC — Faye Hughes Fox, age 70, of Marion, died on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at The McDowell Hospital. A native of Yancey County, she was born on August 24, 1934 to the late William Russell Hughes and Pansy Wallace Hughes. She was a homemaker and was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother to her family. She attended Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church. A son, Danny Lee Fox and a daughter, Joyce Ann Fox preceded her in death.
Surviving are her husband, Burdette Fox of the home; four children, Patsy Dyke and her husband David of Greenwood, SC, Tony Fox and his wife Kathy of Greenville, KY, Shelia Fox of Greenville, KY and Larry Fox and his wife Della of Russellville, KY; two brothers, Herman Hughes and his wife Wanda of Burnsville and Buster Hughes and his wife Jane of Marion; four sisters, Mae Miller and her husband Lester of Green Mountain, Ruth Hughes and her husband Buster of Erwin, TN, Doris Frisbee and her husband Bruce of Marion, Jean Freshour and her husband Johnny of Marion; six grandchildren, Shannon, Charlie Mack, Jonathan, Trevor, Ashley and Hunter and two great grand-children, Dylan and Logan.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in Westmoreland Chapel with Revs. W. L. Kell and Rick Wood and Pastor Randy Ouzts officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Westmoreland Funeral Home and Crematory.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of McDowell County at 218 Logan Street, Marion, NC 28752. An online register is available under OBITUARIES at www.westmorelandfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. Gil Harper

McCORMICK — The Rev. Gil Harper, 80, of 714 Pine St. Extension, husband of Claudia Wideman Harper, died Thursday, July 7, 2005 at his home.
Born in McCormick County, he was a son of the late Dock and Janie Murray Harper. He was a member of Little Mill Baptist Church and Sons of Aide No. 30. A minister and former pastor of Little Mill Baptist Church, he was pastor of St. Charlotte Baptist Church and a retired employee of Milliken Plant, McCormick.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters, Annie Settles Neely of Gastonia, N.C.; the Rev. Phyllis Dunlap of McCormick, Daisy C. Kennedy of Calhoun Falls; five sons, Earnest Harper of Asheville, N.C., Gil Harper Jr. and James Harper, both of McCormick, Larry Harper of Clarksville, Tenn., and Larnell Harper of Greenwood; three sisters, Ida Cunningham and Mary A. Gary, both of McCormick, Kittie Jackson of New Ellenton; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Else Kimball

GREENWOOD — Else Marianne Bugler Kimball, 72, resident of 101 Barrett Drive, widow of Clinton Orville Kimball, died Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at her home. Born April 18, 1933 in Kaiserslatern, Germany, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Else Schupp BŸgler. Formerly a resident of Winter Park, Florida, Mrs. Kimball had made Greenwood her home for the last seven years. She was retired from Lockheed Martin Corporation after more than 30 years service as a government quality assurance inspector. After moving to Greenwood, Mrs. Kimball worked in the Home Department of J.C. Penney and was a volunteer with Hospice Care of the Piedmont. A member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, she was also “Proudly a TEAMSTER” and loved flower arranging and gardening. While living in Winter Park, Mrs. Kimball was active in Ball Room Dance Competition.
Surviving are one son, Stanislaus Joseph and wife Carole Ricciuti Kimball of Greenwood; two grandchildren, Alexander and Catherine Kimball; and one niece, Ingrid B. and husband Karl Koch of Enkenback, Germany .
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted 10:00 a.m. Saturday from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Rev. Father Richard Harris officiating.
The family is at the home on Barrett Drive and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.
In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com for additional information.
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE KIMBALL FAMILY.
PAID OBITUARY

Elizabeth Loudermilk

WATERLOO — Elizabeth “Betty” Mae McLennan Loudermilk, 74, wife of Swinton “Buck” Loudermilk, of 8632 Riverfork Road, died Thursday, July 7, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late Alonzo G. and Mabel Anderson McLennan. She retired from Monsanto and was a member of Mount Gallagher Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a son, Harvey Loudermilk of Waterloo; two daughters, Nancy L. Balentine of Ware Shoals and Dianne Timmerman of Waterloo; a brother, Bobby McLennan of Newberry, Calif.; a sister, Elsie Pitts of Ware Shoals; six grandchildren.
A memorial service is 3 p.m. Saturday at Mount Gallagher Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop.
Visitation is 2-3 Saturday at the church.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Miriam Penn

WARD, SC — Miriam Hurt Penn, 80, of 598 Richland Creek Rd., died Wednesday, July 6, 2005.
Born in Saluda County, she was the daughter of the late Farris and Lillian Eidson Hurt. She was the loving wife of Milledge David Penn for 61 years. He preceded her in death on December 9, 2002. Mrs. Penn was a member of Richland Springs Baptist Church where she taught the children’s Sunday school class for many years. Mrs. Penn worked in the public sector for a number of years until the birth of her first grandchild at which time she became a full time nanny to her five grandchildren.
Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and Billy Langford and Norma and Buck Gibson all of Ward, five grand-children and a grand-daughter-in-law, Rhonda Langford, David and Leah Owdom Langford, Dennis Gibson, Bryce Gibson and Cliff Gibson and a great-granddaughter, Samantha Kay Langford and Lois Pace who was a very devoted and loving caregiver to both “Nanny” and “Pa”.
She was predeceased by her sister and brothers, Blease Hurt, Rebecca Bodie, Hamp Hurt and Pat Hurt.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 9, 2005 at Richland Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Jones officiating. Inter-ment will follow in Saluda Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 PM, Friday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Richland Springs Baptist Church, 1895 Duncan Rd., Ward, SC 29166.
PAID OBITUARY

Charles Ross

NINETY SIX – The following information was incorrect in the Charles Ross obituary that was in the July 7th paper. Mr. Ross is survived by five grandchildren. May it also be noted that the family will receive friends from 2:30 to 4 Friday afternoon at the funeral home.
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE ROSS FAMILY
PAID OBITUARY

Irene Still

Irene Pinson Still, 85, formerly of 102 Still Drive, widow of Roy P. “Penny” Still, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Magnolia Manor.
Visitation is 7-9 Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her daughter at 102 Still Drive.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Sanford Syrkett

LAKELAND, Fla. — Sanford Syrkett, 78, widower of Toshiko Syrkett, died Sunday, July 3, 2005 in Lakeland.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., he was a son of the late Macie Rawes and Leonard and Celia Syrkett. He retired from the Navy with 30 years of service. He attended San Diego City College, Georgia Tech, Atlanta and the University of Florida.
Survivors include two sons, Gerald and Mario Syrkett of Lakeland; two daughters, Sandra Syrkett Williams of San Diego and Sonya Syrkett Henry of Lakeland; a sister, Mozelle Brewer of Greenwood; a brother, Leonard Syrkett of Greenwood; seven grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday.
Coney Funeral Home, 1404 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Carrie Wells

WARE SHOALS — Carrie Magaha Wells, 78, widow of Clarence Rylan Wells, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late William Henry and Annie MaGaha Magaha. She retired from Riegel Textile Corp. and attended Mount Gallagher Baptist Church.
Survivors include five sisters, Gladys Brooks of Greenwood, Rachel Reid of Hodges, Vivian Smith of Honea Path, Betty Spence of Old Hickory, Tenn., and Shelby Jean Evanski of Swansea, Ill.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Gallagher Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop. Burial is in Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Parker-White Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of Rachel and Daniel Reid, 2012 Nation Road, Hodges.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.