Suspect in shooting opens fire
on officers at busy intersection

Man hospitalized after officers return fire, bringing gunbattle to an end

April 2, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

Local law officers shot a man at a busy Greenwood intersection Saturday after the man opened fire on lawmen, authorities said.
The man, considered a suspect in an earlier shooting on Mineral Court, was driving a red Camaro through Uptown Greenwood when he was spotted by a Greenwood police officer, who pursued him.
As the officer pulled the suspect over at the intersection of U.S. 25/Hampton Street and West Cambridge Avenue — between Eckerd and Carolina First — another officer and three members of the sheriff’s office arrived. The suspect exited the driver’s side of the vehicle, pointed a weapon at law officers and opened fire, Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks said.
Brooks said the suspect had at least one gunshot wound.
The man was taken to Self Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, Brooks said.
Mike Frederick, chief deputy at the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, said his vehicle was shot at five times — two bullets went into the hood, two into the windshield and one into the fender.
Frederick said one of the shots passed between the driver and passenger seats and lodged in the back seat on the driver’s side, only inches away from a passenger sitting in the back seat on the passenger side. Nine blue bullet shells were scattered between the Camaro and the sheriff’s office vehicle. Bystanders clung to the yellow caution tape that formed a triangular safety barrier between them and the investigation at the scene. Others huddled in front of Eckerd or at the Amoco station.
“I was watching TV and thought I heard firecrackers,” said Brock Scott, 20, who lives in Carlton Apartments, at the corner of Hampton Street and West Cambridge Avenue.
Scott grabbed his video camera and began to film the shootout.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” Scott said. “I have never seen anything like this before. It’s like something you would see on TV.”
Ife Nnadi, 22, a Lander University student from Nigeria, said he witnessed some of the shootout and got “very, very scared.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this in Greenwood,” Nnadi said.
Both men saw the tail end of the shootout.
Traffic was backed up for about a half-mile both ways on U.S. 25, and bystanders lined both sides of the street, looking on in shock.
“I was outside washing my car and me and my dad heard the gunshots,” said Elizabeth Adams, 20, who lives on Blake Street, which is across from the Lander University bell tower. “I said I needed to go over there and see if everybody was OK. When I got here, the guy was already on the ground. This is not something you expect to see here.” Officials kept Hampton Avenue blocked off from traffic until late Saturday as members of the State Law Enforcement Division investigated the shooting and probed the Camaro with flashlights.
Brooks said SLED will continue a forensic investigation.
Details about the Mineral Court shooting were not available at press time. A press release from the sheriff’s office was not available at press time because Frederick was taking part in the late-night investigation process.
This was the second major shooting near Uptown Greenwood in a year.
Last May, Augustine Omogun took his own life after killing his wife at their home and then shooting a man at a business on Oregon Avenue.
Index-Journal Managing Editor Greg Deal contributed to this article.

Merlin Butler

GREENWOOD — Merlin W. Butler, 76, of 218 Shaun Road, husband of Nellie Edwards Butler, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Starville, MI, he was the son of the late Walter and Vernetta Ruttan Butler. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of WWII, serving in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Butler was retired with Pulliam Trucking, and Department of Social Services where he fostered over 500 children. He was also a member of Fellowship Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter Jane B. Stokes and husband Dale of Brooklet, GA; four sons, Walter Butler and wife Rhonda of Guyton, GA, Arthur Butler and Joann of Clyo, GA, Merlin Butler Jr. and wife Virginia of Greenwood and Shaun Butler and wife Crystal of Maryville, MO; a sister Emma B. Timms of Roseville, MI; two brothers Frances Ghekiere of Columbus, MI and Leroy Ghekiere of Metamore MI; seventeen grandchildren and twenty three great grandchildren.
Services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend James Kelly officiating. Burial will follow at Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons.
The body is at the funeral home where the family will receive friends Monday from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Eugene Cole

GREENWOOD — Eugene Allen Cole, 86, resident of 1006 Pine Forest Drive, husband of Annie Williams Cole, died March 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Cross Hill, April 6, 1919, he was a son of the late Richard E. and Bessie Lees Watson Cole. He was a US Army Veteran of WW II having served in the European Theatre under General Patton. Mr. Cole received the Purple Heart and the Oakleaf Cluster. He retired from Greenwood Mills -- Mathews Plant after 42 years of service. Mr. Cole was an avid hunter and fisherman, his favorite hobby was using his metal detector and he loved children.
A member of South Main Street Baptist Church, he was also a member of the Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 65 years are a daughter, Patricia “Pat” C. Maffett and husband, Michael of Greenwood; grandsons, Michael K. Maffett, Jr. and Timothy A. Maffett and wife Kathy and a great-granddaughter, Miranda L. Maffett, all of Greenwood.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 pm Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Phil McMinn, Rev. Richard McWhite and Rev. Robbie Burton officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Russell Williams, Steve Crocker, Bill Rushton, Joe Hill, John Faris and Milton Rogers.
Honorary escort will be Julian and Louise Wightman, L.C. Thrailkill, Jack Burton, Evelyn Jordan, Jake Duffie, Kat Gray, Rachel Hill, Wayne Rush, Lib Harmon, Martha Timmerman, Dr. Carlos Manalich, Dr. Allen Turner and Dr. Richard Christian.
The family is at the home and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:30 to 2:30 Sunday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to South Main Street Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Cornelia Arvaniti Erskine

Cornelia Arvaniti Erskine, 93, of National Health Care, widow of Bayard Cass Erskine, died Saturday, April 1, 2006.
Survivors include a daughter, Carole Farnham of Richmond, Va.; two sons, the Rev. Dr. Tim Erskine of Greenwood and Bayard Erskine of Knoxville, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tenn.
Memorials may be made to Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Road, Knoxville, Tenn. 37919.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcswainevans.com
McSwain-Evans Funeral Home of Newberry is in charge.

John Fess

John H. Fess, 92, of 306 Grove St., Apt. 2-K, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at the Hospice House.
Born in New Albany, Indiana, he was a son of the late Thomas and Zoda Fess. He was a brick mason, a member of Emerald Baptist Church and the Who So Ever Sunday School Class.
Survivors include two sons, DeWayne Fess of Waterloo and Richard Allen Fess of Lake Mary, Fla.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial services are 7 p.m. Wednesday at Emerald Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Curt Edison.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, S.C. 29646 or Emerald Baptist Church Landscape Fund, 110 Laurel Ave. East, Greenwood, S.C. 29646.
Harley Funeral Home & Creamatory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfunearlhome.com

Roy Johnson

GREENWOOD — Roy Lee Johnson, 86, husband of Lois R. Johnson, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at his home at 403 Augusta Circle, in Greenwood.
Born October 8, 1919, in Anderson, SC, he was the eldest son and one of twelve children of the late Benjamin F. and Vera A. Anderson. He was a former employee of Greenwood Mills, retiring after 48 years from Mathews Plant where he was a weaving superintendent. He was a member of the Quarter Century Club of Greenwood Mills and a member of the Mathews Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of Mathews Methodist Church and a veteran of World War II, having served in the US Army in Europe and North Africa.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 68 years are two sons, Jerry L. Johnson and wife Brenda of Mobile, Alabama and Harold R. Johnson of San Jose, California; one daughter, Betty J. Abrams of Greenwood; seven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Two of his grandchildren, Amy A. Wilson and husband Chris, and Nicholas Abrams, reside in Greenwood and aided in his care. Survivors also include two sisters, Lucille O. Johnson of Greenwood and Patricia J. Digby of Anderson, SC; four brothers, Marion S., Herbert C., and Benjamin F. Johnson, all of Greenwood. His youngest brother, James S. Johnson, also of Greenwood, was a frequent and faithful visitor.
Services are 4 PM Monday, April 3, 2006, at Blyth Funeral Home with Rev. John Hipp and Rev. Steven King officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is Sunday. April 2, 2006, from 6-8PM at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Betty Abrams, 132 Colonial Drive in Belle Meade.
Pallbearers will be nephews James Michael Johnson, James Richard Johnson, Gregory Lewis, Herbert C. Johnson, Jr., Michael A. Reynolds; and Buddy Mathews, Joseph Abrams, and Virgil Driscoll.
Honorary escort will be nephew Joseph Johnson, Jack Scott, Dale Boyd, John Still, Jim Clary, Earl Cowan, Maurice Corley, Dr. Carlos Manalich, Dale Jones, Curtis Chastain, Vasco Hooks, Wallace Reynolds and Guy Reed.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mathews Methodist Church, PO Box 2066, Greenwood, SC 29646-0066 in memory of Roy Johnson or to the charity of one’s choice.
The family would like to thank Dr. Carlos Manalich and the staff at Greenwood Internal Medicine for their compassionate help and support, especial during the last several years of Mr. Johnson’s life.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Solomon J. Moore

McCORMICK — Solomon J. Moore, husband of Lisa G. Moore, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at the Wilkes Health Care Center in Washington, Ga.
Born in Lincolnton, Ga., he was a son of Mary Frances Tucker Gilchrist and the late Jerry Moore. He was a member of The Tranquil A.M.E. Church, a 1988 graduate of McCormick High School and was a self employed truck driver.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Joe Phillip Gilchrist of McCormick; his wife of McCormick; three daughters, Katrina Moore, Trita Brown and Courtney Moss, all of McCormick; three sisters, Gloria Tucker of Charlotte, N.C., Henrietta Morgan of Plum Branch and Deborah Leverette of McCormick; three brothers, Charles Moore of Charlotte, N.C., Willie A. Morgan of McCormick and Tony Martin of Greenwood.
The family is at the home of his mother and stepfather, 583 Talbert Road.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Mitchell Pressley

WARE SHOALS — Arthur Mitchell Pressley, 89, formerly of Ware Shoals, widower of Sara Martin Pressley and Nellie Calvert Pressley, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at the Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Greenville Coounty, he was a son of the late Arthur T. and Abbie Mitchell Pressley. He was a member and former deacon of Poplar Springs Baptist Church, the Brewerton Masonic Lodge land was retired from Riegel Textile Corp.
Survivors include two sons, Jim Pressley, Shelby, N.C. and Larry Pressley, Eaton, Ga.; a brother, Warren Pressley, Hickory Tavern; a sister, Iris Baldwin, Nashville, Tenn.; and two grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Poplar Spring Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. C.J. Cauble and Bruce Ostrom. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews.
Honorary escorts are Deacons, the Men’s Sunday School Class and Paul O’Dell.
Visitation is 2-3 p.m. today at Poplar Springs Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, P.O. Box 124, Ware Shoals, S.C.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Elma Todd

GREENWOOD — Elma Butler Todd, 99, formerly of Morning Side Assisted Living widow of Orby Lewis Todd, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Horry County, she was the daughter of the late Willie Farrell Butler Sr. and the late Rachel Smith Butler. Mrs. Todd was a former Elementary school teacher and a homemaker. She was also a former member of Myrtle Beach United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a son Eugene “Gene” Todd and wife Faye of Greenwood, a daughter Sara Todd Reardon of Beaufort, SC, a brother Edgar R. Butler of Baltimore, ML, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Services will be 3:00 PM Monday at Camp Swamp United Methodist Church, Loris, SC, with the Reverend Johnny Lewis and the Reverend Ken Timmerman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mark C. Todd, R. Bruce Todd, Michael Reardon, Jarrett Hendrick, Evan C. Todd, Austin Todd and Robert Freeman.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM tonight at the funeral home and Monday from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the church.
The family is at the home of her son Gene Todd; 114 Amherst Drive, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Memorials may be made to at Camp Swamp United Methodist Church cemetery fund, 853 Camp Swamp Church Road, Loris, SC 29569.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Beverly Ruth Glover Urso

St. George, Utah — Beverly Ruth Glover Urso, age 70, passed away Friday, March 31, 2006, in St. George. She was born September 7, 1935, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Ether LeRoy and Barbara Schmier Glover.
Beverly was born and raised in Idaho Falls where she attended elementary and high school.
In 1962, while still living in Idaho Falls, Beverly met her future husband, William James “Bill” Urso. Bill and Beverly married in 1965, in Las Vegas, NV. They lived many places throughout their life together including; Rhode Island, Ballston Spa, NY, Mentor, OH, Newport News, VA, Fredricksburg, VA, and South Carolina. After Bill retired they moved to St. George in 1993.
Beverly was born and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bill joined the Church in 1978, and Beverly and Bill embraced the gospel together. She held many callings in the Church, serving twice, as a Relief Society President and Young Women’s President.
Beverly enjoyed sewing, fishing and was an excellent cook. She always smelled wonderful, (White Diamonds was her favorite scent.) She loved to shop and ride with Bill on the motorcycle.
She was a loving, caring woman with a wonderful sense of humor. She was independent, strong, and spiritual. She loved to go, go, go.
Surviving family include her: husband, Bill, of St. George, UT; children, Robert Francis (Gail) Urso, of Vienna, VA, Steven John (Tamara) Urso, of Chesapeake, VA, Richard Lee (Michele) Urso, of Charlestown, RI, and Cynthia (Olaf) Gravelsins, of Cleveland, OH; 10 grandchildren; sister, Donetta (Ralph) Simmons, of Salt Lake City, UT; and brother, Richard (Liz) Glover, of San Jacinto, CA.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. George 10th Ward Chapel, 500 N. Bluff St., St. George. Visitations will be held Tuesday, April 4, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary and again Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services, at the Chapel. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT (435) 673-2454.
Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences and view obituaries at www.spilsburymortuary.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Keeping his passion alive

Despite bad crash, Thomas Wilson plans to continue racing motocross

April 2, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Thomas Wilson loves racing. It’s his passion.
It’s something the Ninety Six High School senior has done — in one form or another — since he was 12.
Wilson started out racing go-carts in sixth grade before moving to motocross about a year and a half ago. In fact, he gave up playing football for the Wildcats to take on motocross full time.
“I’ll race anything with four wheels or two wheels,” the 18-year-old said. “Some people love football, love the smell of the grass and the feel of putting pads on. I just love the feel of putting a helmet on and the vibration of the engine. All of that stuff.
“I just love it.”
And not even a near-death experience could deter him from his passion.
Wilson was involved in a serious accident March 18 in the Spring Fever Super Series Warm Up Race at Strawberry Hill Motocross Raceway in Greenville.
Wilson remembers winning his heat in the 250cc race. He remembers being in second place in the main event and seeing the white flag that signified he was on the final lap.
The next thing he remembers was he was about to be put in a helicopter — some 45 minutes later — that was going to take him to Greenville Memorial Hospital.
“I had a friend there named Angel, who was there to take pictures of me racing. I remember somebody telling me that the helicopter was coming and I was still a little dazed and I was calling her name, ‘Angel,’ and I think they thought I was dead and I was calling for angels,” Wilson said.
“I just wanted to talk to somebody who new me.”
What Wilson doesn’t remember was that he crashed his motorcycle, landing face first on the track. He suffered a concussion and, for an undeterminted amout of time, wasn’t breathing.
“I think I was only on my front wheel for a second and then I slammed head-first on the ground, going about 30 miles per hour,” Wilson said.
But luckily enough for him a concussion was the extent of his injuries.
No real cuts or scrapes. No broken bones. Not even his bike was damaged.
He had a serious headache from the concussion and some memory loss.
“I was in and out after. And I don’t remember from then until about Wednesday,” Wilson said. “I remember seeing people’s faces, but not what I said to them. I don’t really know much of what happened then.”
While the Ninety Six senior has a hard time remembering what went on that Saturday, his mother and father will never forget.
The main reason is that Karen and Wayne Wilson were 60 miles away in Greenwood while their youngest son was being air-lifted to Greenville Memorial.
In fact, the two weren’t together either. Karen was out for a leisurely day of shopping, while Wayne was relaxing at home.
Wayne took the intial call and got a ride to Greenville from the next-door neighbor. Karen found out just as soon as she got home and took off up S.C. 25 with her daughter.
“I didn’t get to talk to Wayne until we were almost in Greenville,” Karen said. “But the only thing we knew was that he was conscious when they brought him in and he was airlifted. We knew nothing. But we knew something was going on because they don’t do that (air-lift) for nothing.
“We didn’t know if he was alive or anything. we didn’t know if when we got there our son was going to be alive and that’s a bad feeling. to drive that far and not know anything.”
But they arrived to find Thomas in good condition and good spirits.
Thomas informed them that he was ready to take to the track again.
“That’s the first thing he said when I saw him,” said Karen, who was with her son as he was released later that night.
Thomas said he was ordered by doctors to skip the Spring Fever Super Series opener March 25 at Parker Valley in Lawndale, N.C. and will miss Saturday’s race at Strawberry Hill because of his concussion.
He said he’s been cleared for the third race of the series April 8 at Catheys Creek in Forrest City, N.C.
“I’m ready to go back out there,” Wilson said. “I couldn’t race last week and I can’t go this week. But next week I’ll be out there racing somewhere.
“That first jump might be a little scary, but after that, I’ll be OK.”
Thomas knows wrecks of all degrees are a part of racing. It’s something he’s come to grips with over time ... and experience. But racing is something he’d eventually like to persue as a career.
“It’s just part of racing,” he said. “I don’t regret what happened. It’s just something else I learned not to do. “I want to be somebody in racing. I want to do this as long as I can.”
While being concerned, especially after enduring that harrowing 60-mile trek to Greenville, Thomas’ parents support their son’s possible career choice.
“I really do feel fine with that,” Karen said. “I know that (racing) is his passion. So much so, that he gave up football his senior year so he could devote all his time to it. And I respect that.
“But I’m sure one of us will be there with him next time.”
Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at:
ronc@indexjournal.com

Will ‘virtual’ classrooms produce ‘virtual’ robots?

April 2, 2006

Computers are great teaching and learning tools. But, that’s just it. They are tools, not substitutes for one-on-one, face-to-face human dialogue, where real time interaction between human teachers and students is the rule, never the exception.
More and more, schools, including some locally, are looking to create “virtual” classrooms. That conjures up all kinds of mental images. Students might as well have electronic umbilical cords attached to computers, thereby to receive mass-produced, impersonal instructions via the matter-of-fact application of technology.
The first question that could be asked, of course, is an overriding concern ..... and should be. That is, how are kids to learn how to interact with those around them? Throughout their lives?

WILL THEY BECOME, IN TIME, electronically educated automatons who will think and act like robots? Will they get enough personal attention to help develop imaginations, the one thing that instills curiosity so vital in unlocking the mysteries of the universe? And, what about stimulating inventive minds that harness the future for all. It may sound facetious - it may even be - but will our kids become “virtual” children as they become “virtual” appendages of computers? Will they develop a real-person enhanced healthy respect for the power of the human mind and the necessities of traversing the rocky roads of life in a constantly changing and dangerous world? Computers, to be sure, are “useful idiots,” a term coined by someone in the realm of politics. They can do nothing they are not programmed to do. STILL, THEY ARE MAGNIFICENT tools of learning and teaching that have ushered humanity far beyond its collective finite understanding. When used in the right context and under the proper conditions, they are invaluable.
As technology and information leap frog forward at almost the speed of misunderstanding, we have no alternative but to use what computers provide to appropriate to ourselves the multiple benefits that accrue, including those in education. But, we cannot ever lose sight of the real magic that comes from that explicit moment when the minds of a child and a human teacher bond.
Teachers -men and women - have feelings for children that negotiate barriers of the mind and personality. In short, they care.That’s something a computer can never do ..... no matter how it’s programmed.