Surprises were in store for visitors
to Wesley Commons wellness center

January 5, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

They call him Mr. 8:30.
Every morning, without fail, he’s doing his rounds at Wesley Commons, making sure everything is as it should be and that no one needs an extra hand to jump start a battery or fix a broken chair.
Resident Miller Haugh is so much “in the know” at the community center that when workers were constructing the new 7,500-square foot Wellness Complex, they actually thought Haugh was an employee checking in on their progress every day.
But like some of the other 250 guests who came to see the facility for the first time during the consecration and grand opening Wednesday, even Haugh was surprised by the final product that includes an indoor pool, aerobic center and massage therapy room.
When the red ribbon was down and the doors were swung open, Haugh was surprised for yet another reason.
His late wife’s name, Sara Stone Haugh, was shining back at him in large gold letters.
“This will be an inspiration really to continue doing what I’m doing,” Haugh said. “My wife was very reserved and soft-spoken. She would have been amazed at this place. She was the kind that always had good health. Everywhere I went, she went. That’s why I could do what I did and I haven’t finished.”
At 83 years old, Haugh said it is facilities such as the one dedicated at Wesley Commons that keep people moving and alive. He attributes his good physical and mental health to staying active and said he looks forward to doing yoga and aerobics in the new center.
“This will help me live longer, as well as many other people,” Haugh said. “The fruits of this will be in coming years when the greatest benefits will come out.”
President and CEO David Buckshorn said he was always touched by the incessant care that Haugh gave his wife while she battled Alzheimer’s disease.
“He deserves this,” Buckshorn said. “He has done so much for so many people. He fixes people’s blinds. He’s all over the place. He loved his wife very much. He held her hand and walked her everywhere.”
Different centers within the complex also were named in honor of some of the donors.
These include Warner Crossing (in honor of Ann Warner), the Ballentine Aquatic Center and the Millie Craig Fitness Center.
Sales Marketing and Development Director Grant Reagin said the complex, which opens debt-free, is part of the community’s drive to attract retirees to the area.
“People have no idea how much we’ve expanded,” Reagin said, “but when they drive around, their mouths open.”

Wrong information,
but correct intent
when story published

January 5, 2006

Index Journal Commentary by
Index-Journal Managing Editor, GREG DEAL,
and Executive News Editor, RICHARD WHITING
“A miracle,” it was called by many.
Hundreds of family members converged on a church near a West Virginia mine and began to rejoice as word spread through the crowd that 12 of the 13 miners trapped for 41 hours were found alive.
The heartbreaking truth came just a few hours later with the news of 11 miners’ deaths.
Family members, once captured in pictures of jubilation, singing “How Great Thou Art” and praising God for a miracle, were, just a few hours later, filled with anger and claiming “lies” had been told to them about their relatives being alive.
The news broke on The Associated Press wire at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, five minutes past The Index-Journal’s normal press time of midnight.
But the newspaper had made a decision to hold the press until the end of the Orange Bowl to provide readers a report on an incredible, triple-overtime showdown between Florida State and Penn State.
As editors waited for the game results, news began to break on CNN, Fox News and The Associated Press.
The AP first reported this at 12:05: “Family members say 12 miners trapped after an explosion in West Virginia are alive.”
Television news quickly picked this up and reported on celebrations among family members. Photographs of hugging and kissing were priceless. You could feel the emotion jump right off the images.
At 12:11, The Associated Press reported: “Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, more than 41 hours after the blast, family members said.”
The AP noted that the state’s governor had not confirmed the news.
The Index-Journal made a decision to hold the paper well past its press start time in order to provide readers the most current news.
Because any delay in printing the paper past midnight means delays in delivery of the newspaper to your home, time is always of the essence. But the paper always strives to get the story right.
We waited any for signs of confirmation, although the celebration by family members seemed confirmation enough. That confirmation appeared to have come at 12:38 when Gov. Joe Manchin proclaimed: “They told us they have 12 alive. We have some people that are going to need some medical attention.”
When a state’s governor issues such a statement, that is usually confirmation enough for anyone.
The Index-Journal continued to wait — a full hour and seven minutes past deadline — for any further word before printing. The paper chose to use the headline “They’re alive” in quote marks because those were the words of the families. The paper also chose to use “12 miners found” instead of “rescued” because there were no reports of their whereabouts.
The newspaper simply could not hold any longer once it received confirmation from the governor.
Television news continued to report the “miracle” for the next two hours, interviewing extended family members and friends but questioning why mine officials or police had not issued any reports via an expected press conference. While Index-Journal papers were filling news racks and newspaper boxes across Greenwood and the Lakelands with what we hoped would be an uplifting story, things were starting to change.
At 3:44 a.m., probably by the time most newspapers were delivered across the South, including across Greenwood and the Lakelands, The AP sent another news alert: “Family members report that 11 of the 12 coal miners who were initially thought to have survived an explosion in a coal mine have died. The sole survivor is hospitalized.” Larger newspapers, such as The (Columbia) State and The Greenville News, were unable to get the news of the reported survival in earlier editions (those shipped to areas outside the Columbia and Greenville metro areas, including Greenwood and parts of the Lakelands). But for the Columbia-area edition, The State newspaper not only reported that the miners had been found, it also published the headline “12 miners rescued; 1 dead,” complete with a picture of people crying upon hearing the news that family members had survived. And The Greenville News’ late edition ran the headline “Miners found alive.”
The Index-Journal, The State and The Greenville News were not alone. USA Today, The New York Post, The New York Times and many other newspapers across America reported the same story.
TV news had reported it much earlier, as did Internet news.
Here’s just a sampling of what major newspapers published on their front pages in Wednesday’s editions: n The Boston Herald: “Miner Miracle: America’s prayers answered.”
n The Rocky Mountain News: “They’re alive!”
n Newsday: “Miracle in the mine.”
n Indianapolis Star: “They’re alive!”
n Chicago Tribune: “12 miners rescued.”
n New York Post: “ALIVE!”
n The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “12 miners alive.”
n The Charlotte Observer: “Miners’ families cry: ‘They’re alive!’”
n San Francisco Chronicle: “Miracle in West Virginia.”
n The Tampa Tribune: “12 miners survive ordeal.”
n The Kansas City Star: “12 miners alive after 41 hours.”
n The Columbus Dispatch: “12 miners alive.”
But, as with The Index-Journal, it was too late to recall newspapers already on the doorsteps of readers’ homes. Today’s news from the AP reads: “The miners’ families learned of the deaths after a harrowing night in which they were mistakenly told at first that 12 of the men were alive. It took three hours before the families were told the truth, and their joy turned instantly to fury.”
Ben Hatfield, chief executive of mine owner International Coal Group, blamed the incorrect information on a “miscommunication,” the AP reported Wednesday.
Hatfield said he knew within 45 minutes of the reports that the news likely was wrong, but he waited three hours to report the truth because he said officials wanted to have all the information right first, The AP reported. This only fueled the anger of grieving family members. Why did the company wait so long? Why did it allow what it knew to be an amazing – but incredibly wrong — story to spread across America and raise the hopes of millions? The AP reported: “When the bad news was delivered to the families, ‘there was no apology. There was no nothing. It was immediately out the door,’ said Nick Helms, son of miner Terry Helms, one of the dead.”
Readers called The Index-Journal on Wednesday morning to ask which news report was correct — the story we published or what they were hearing on TV news reports as they prepared for their work day.
One caller said the newspaper should check TV news before going to press, saying that AP reports cannot be relied upon. The caller apparently did not understand or realize that broadcast and print news services were all reporting the same news into the early hours of the morning, well after the newspaper had published. There was no legitimate reason to wait, but had the newspaper waited until 4 a.m. to print there would have been more irate readers who would have called to complain that they did not get their morning newspaper.
Yes, the story that printed a little after 1 a.m. and arrived at your homes and offices was certainly wrong, but the paper did not act in reckless disregard for the truth and certainly intended nothing but the best, as did all the other news outlets. Newspapers that proclaimed the 12 miners had survived were not rolling the dice and simply hoping their front pages were correct. For those who can remember it, this was not a case similar to the infamous “Dewey defeats Truman” headline debacle following the November 1948 presidential election.
Call it “miscommunication” if you want, but officials allowed hundreds of family members to go from grief to jubilation back to grief in a three-hour period. Now those families have to be surrounded by a barrage of newspapers that claim their dead loved ones “Alive!”
Does the media bear responsibility? Absolutely. Community newspapers, such as The Index-Journal, rely on The Associated Press news wire to report regional, national and world news. The Index-Journal news staff writers do not cover these stories.
The AP, which is generally extraordinarily careful in confirming stories and is often the last to do so, eventually did what everyone else did on the East Coast: it reported the news that was available to it and confirmed by the governor of the state.
It is certainly tragic that this story did not turn out as our headline, “They’re alive!” proclaimed in Wednesday’s paper.
There certainly will be plenty of debate in coming days as to who bears the blame. In a way, we all do. Authorities could have been more forthcoming, reporters on the scene could have been more thorough, editors could have asked more questions and publishers or newspaper executive editors could have made tough choices to push back their deadlines.
But, in reality, newspapers can’t do that. Newspapers simply must go to press at a certain time in order for your newspaper to arrive to you in a timely manner. There’s never a guarantee that a story won’t change. Everything in a story can change in the hours from when the newspaper rolls off the press to when it hits your doorstep. That is the nature of the business.

Bearcats lose lead,
game to Saints

January 5, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

The Lander men’s basketball team let one slip away Wednesday night.
The Bearcats squandered a six-point lead with 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining and fell, 87-82, to North Georgia at Finis Horne Arena.
“We had a chance, being up six with about two minutes left,” Lander coach Bruce Evans said. “We missed some shots down the stretch we normally hit, and maybe made a couple of poor decisions.”
With the loss, Lander falls to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in the Peach Belt Conference.
Matt Causey led North Georgia with a game-high 34 points. Evans said the Bearcats knew they had to try to limit Causey.
“He was able to score several baskets because he’s so creative in the lane,” Evans said. “He was also able to hurt us at the free-throw line.”
Jarred Jackson led Lander with 30 points.
Jackson said he felt Lander should have won the contest.
“New year, new attitude. That’s what we’ve been saying,” Jackson said. “We came out aggressive, played hard. We really needed this conference game at home.”
Using torrid outside shooting from Jackson and the inside effort from Emmanuel Hodrea, the Bearcats jumped out to the 17-6 lead just five minutes into the contest.
Both teams were playing with high energy, but it was Lander that was able to create turnovers and missed shots in the early going, transferring the opportunities into points.
The Saints were able to climb back into the game in the first half courtesy of solid post play. Mark Trust, Charles Mitchell and Marcus Robinson all hit inside baskets in traffic to cut into Lander’s lead. Matt Causey’s two free throws sliced Lander’s lead to 24-18 with 10:50 left in the first half.
The two teams continued to battle deep into the physical first half.
On consecutive possessions, Lander’s Scottie Smith ripped down offensive rebounds and laid the putback in the basket. After guard Jason Davis swished a long 3-pointer, Lander found itself in possession of a 40-33 lead with 5:40 left in the half.
North Georgia stormed into the lead before halftime, methodically trimming Lander’s lead.
Playing a super aggressive man-to-man defense, the Saints created several fastbreak opportunities. Late in the half, Trust converted a three-point play by nailing a short jumper as he was fouled and subsequently sinking a free throw. Matt Causey’s 24-foot 3-pointer as time expired sent North Georgia to halftime with a 50-45 lead. Lander steamed back into the lead early in the second half.
The pace of the contest was furious at the beginning of the second. The Bearcats riddled the ill-advised 2-3 zone of North Georgia, getting 3-pointers from Jackson and Michael Griffin, as well as a tip-in from Hodrea, to form an 8-0 run and take a 53-50 lead with 15:23 remaining in the game.
True to the flow of the game, the Saints reclaimed the lead minutes later.
Taking advantage of Lander fouls, Causey and Trust calmly sank two free throws apiece. Moments later, North Georgia’s Robert Shoupes banked in an 8-foot jumper to give the Saints a 62-60 lead with 8:48 left.

Opinion

Another park would make
quality of life here better

January 5, 2006

Is there a need for another park in Greenwood? After all, there is the relatively new park on East Cambridge Street, and it has become a popular place for a lot of people.
That usage, though, should convince us that another park would be more than welcome. If not, then take a look at how the city’s oldest park – Magnolia – has become a neighborhood staple. We might also consider the advantages of the Civic Center facilities, as well.
If for no other reason, Cambridge and Magnolia Parks have given many children a chance to play in outdoor settings that are safe and entertaining places to spend time just being children. Adults, of course, get good use out of them, too, and it hardly seems unreasonable to think another park would be just as beneficial to a lot of other people.

THAT IS ONE MORE REASON why a park at the corner of Grace Street and 72 By-pass, on the site of the old CPW water plant, would be a plus for all people. That site, which is technically owned by the CPW, is, in the final analysis, property owned by the taxpayers. Those taxpayers have every right to their opinions on how the property is used. The least elected officials can do is listen to those opinions without automatically vetoing the park idea. Consider the impact parks have on the quality of life of any community, including Greenwood. People here are fortunate enough to live in a community where quality of life means something. Higher education, entertainment, proximity to larger cities, dining – the list goes on – all serve to give us a community that is not only attractive to those who live here, it also is attractive to people looking for such a place to make their homes.

THAT’S TRUE, OF COURSE, whether people are in retirement or re-locating businesses and industries.
Actually, Greenwood has so much to shout about, it might be hard for some to see a need for anything else. Look again, though. We can be an even better place to call home, a place where things like parks and libraries and a first-class YMCA facility and an arts complex are among the things that lift everyday living above the mundane and maintain this as one of the rare places that have quality written all over them.
Parks, or a series of neighborhood parks, help fill the bill. It’s part of what makes “southern hospitality” an enviable way of life that appeals to others. Why not everyone here?

Obituaries

Eunice Ashley

ABBEVILLE — Mary “Eunice” Beasley Ashley, 67, of 434 Old Greenwood Highway, wife of Leonard Jessie Ashley Sr., died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Ware Shoals, she was a daughter of the late Robert Lee and Ella Marie Hodges Beasley. She was a retired employee of Abbeville Shirt Plant and Kemet Industries and a member of Southside Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a son, Leonard “Jessie” Ashley Jr. of the home; two daughters, Patsy Ashley of St. Augustine, Fla., and Denise A. Cooper of Abbeville; two sisters, Janie Bowie of Abbeville and Sarah Fredrick of Coronaca; two half brothers, Calvin Pressley of Hilton Head and Junior Beasley of Honea Path; and six grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. Burial is in Keowee Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Cooper, 296 Old Calhoun Falls Highway.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Leesa M. Bryson

BRISTOW, Va. — Leesa M. Bryson, 36, wife of Tyrone Bryson, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005 at Prince William County Hospital in Manassas.
Born in Abbeville County, S.C., she was a daughter of Genevieve Brooks Martin and Horace Martin. She was a member of Flat Rock A.M.E. Church, a 1987 Abbeville High School graduate and a graduate of Prince William County School of Nursing.
Survivors include her husband of the home; her parents, both of Abbeville; two sons, Reginald Brownlee Jr. of Anderson, S.C., and Cameron Bryson of Manassas; a daughter, Kimberly Brownlee of Anderson; two sisters, Doris Martin of Abbeville and Jackie Martin of Greenwood, S.C.; two brothers, Michael Martin of Abbeville and Fredrick Martin of Marietta, Ga.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter A.M.E. Church, conducted by the Revs. Albert Thompson, Wayman Coleman III and Cornell Morton. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, both in Abbeville County. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are Abbeville High School Class of 1987 members and friends of the family. The family is at the home of her mother, 101 Price St., and a sister Doris Martin, 136 Moore St., both in Abbeville.
Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.

Denise Audrey Graham

JOHNSTON — Denise Audrey Graham, 25, of 135 Long Cane Road, died on Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 at her home.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a daughter of William and Edna Burton Graham. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Edgefield, where she was member of the MSY Choir and the Pastor’s Aide. She was a former clerical worker for Mental Health, a graduate of Strom Thurmond High School in 2000 and a member of Women’s Home Aide Society No. 126.
Survivors include her mother of Johnston; her father of Brooklyn; two brothers, Willie Graham of Brooklyn and Calvin Graham of Johnston; six sisters, Marquitta Graham, Martinez, Ga., Chanta Graham and Natasha Eastman of Brooklyn, Shameeka Graham and Lashonda Graham of Aiken and Connie Graham of Johnston.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. James Dukes. Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.

James Lake Sr.

James Lake Sr., 62, of 525 Taggart Ave., widower of Ella W. Lake, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005 At Hospice House of the Piedmont in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late John Lake Sr. and Annie Blanch Lake. He was a 1961 Brewer High School graduate and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include two sons, James Lake Jr. and Roderick Jackson and three grandchildren, one reared in the home, Desimond Curry.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Macedonia Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Willie S. Harrison, assisted by the Revs. John Nix and David Connors. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park. Pallbearers are members of Brewer High School Class of 1961.
Flower bearers are Brewer Class of 1961 members and Viola Smith and Vanessa Jones.
Visitation is 7-8 tonight at Parks Funeral Home.
Viewing begins at 1 today at the funeral home.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Olin Roton

Olin Judson Roton, 88, of 1113 Ninety Six Highway, widower of Julia Estelle Hughes Roton, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Saluda, he was a son of the late Olin Bunis and Sally Pearl Mack Roton. He was a World War II Army veteran, where he was a bridge builder and a tech sergeant. He retired as a carpenter from Fluor Daniel after 39 years of service and attended North Greenwood Church of God.
Survivors include three daughters, Vickie Coursey and Faye Ward, both of Greenwood and Mrs. Walter (Peggy) Echols of Ninety Six; a son, Tony R. Roton of Abbeville; a brother, Edwin Virgil Roton of Greenwood; 10 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Services are 3:30 p.m. today at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Richard Saxon. Burial is in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Danny Johnson, Jay Coursey, Wally Echols, Chad Echols, David Bell, Ray Roton, Chris Turner and Zachary Bell.
Visitation was 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Upstate Chapter, PO Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648 or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1741, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com.

Michael Rutland

GREENWOOD – Michael Edward Rutland, 62, of 317 Marietta Drive, husband of Peggy Prescott Rutland, died Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at the Hospice House.
Born in Columbia, he was a son of Frances Smith Rutland and the late LeRoy E. Rutland. He was a graduate of Clemson University and was retired from Greenwood Mills. He was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Surviving is his wife of the home; his mother of Clemson; two daughters, Laine Rutland Pagan and Sarah Rutland Carter, both of Acworth, GA; a son, Robert W. Chambers of Simpsonville; two brothers, Glenn Rutland of Seneca and Frank Rutland of Clemson; five grandchildren, Rainey, Logan, Spencer and Hannah Chambers and Rachel Pagan.
A special thanks to Mark Swygert, Anna Michaelis, Jessie Davis, his close companion and his Hospice caretakers.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Old Stone Church Cemetery in Clemson with the Rev. Tom Cartledge officiating.
The family members are at their respective homes.
It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials made to Hospice House, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory of Greenwood is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Arlene Vickery

Arlene Watkins Vickery, 80, of 211 Cemetery Road, widow of Mack Herbert Vickery, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late Oscar and Mamie Donaldson Watkins. She was a member of Abney Memorial Baptist Church, where she was a T.E.L. Sunday School Class member.
Survivors include three daughters, Vera Green of Greenwood, Carolyn Richardson of Troy and Gale Burris of China Grove, N.C.; four sons, Mack H. Vickery of St. Matthews, Don Vickery, Dan Vickery and Dale Vickery, all of Greenwood; a sister, Ella Machen of Iva; a brother, Ernest Watkins of Decatur, Ga.; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Abney Memorial Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Ted Williams. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Clayton Vickery, Jimmy Vickery, Randy Vickery, Neil Smith, Gregg Smith, Dennis Smith and Kenneth Vickery.
Honorary escorts are members of the T.E.L. Sunday School Class of the church.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a daughter Vera Green, 234 Blyth Road and at their respective homes. Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com.