‘Mr. Republican’ gets a ‘wave’
from Democratic chairman

June 2, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean has a contact person in Greenwood for all things Democratic. It’s Mr. Republican, John Nave.
Oops! Sorry, it’s John T. WAVE.
Nave, or as the Democratic National Committee knows him through mailers as “Wave,” was asked to respond to the 2006 Grassroots Survey of Democratic Leaders.
“Your survey responses will give the DNC a better understanding of the views of Democrats in the Greenwood area,” the survey cover letter says. “With your input, the DNC will be more effective in building grassroots support for our Party’s agenda.”
And an accompanying letter from Dean, now DNC chairman, tells Nave that his response will “send a message to self-righteous Republicans who think they have a blank check to move America further to the right with their radical, special interest agenda.”
Trouble is, Nave has no idea what are the “views of Democrats in the Greenwood area” and he proudly promotes the Republican agenda. The former Republican mayor of Greenwood has been active in GOP politics locally and at the state level for many years.
“I’m enjoying it. They’re the ones who would be embarrassed if they knew I was on (their list),” said Nave, who also received a solicitation from “The Nation,” a liberal publication advertising information about what it says are the impeachment grounds for President Bush.
“I think it is interesting that they pit one against the other. You have to do it if you play politics.”
Nave said he has gotten Democratic and liberal literature ever since a man he used to fly with signed him up for Common Cause, a government watchdog group.
Even though the last name doesn’t match, the latest DNC mailer does come to the “right” address on Brooklane Drive in Greenwood. Dean’s letter is addressed “Dear Fellow Democrat” and calls Nave “an active and engaged member of our Party in your community.”
It asks for Nave’s response to the survey within 72 hours.
The survey asks Nave to rank nine issues in level of importance, from 1-10, and seeks responses to 13 multiple choice questions. A commitment to join the committee as a contributing member also is sought, along with a payment method.
“I’m asking for your financial help today because we must come together to build a strong and united Democratic Party ready to take on extremist Republicans eager to destroy decades of hard-won progress,” Dean’s letter said. In a nod to post-Watergate politics, the back of the white envelope has a black stamp, “Do Not Tamper.”
“It’s sad,” Nave said of the Democratic appeal. “There’s not a thing in them, it’s just like a broken record. Their appeal is to the uneducated, the poor looking for a handout.”
On the local front, Nave has been part of those decades that, when he was mayor, were marked by Republican and Democratic cooperation. A profile of Nave in February 2004 in The Index-Journal said:
“His involvement with county politics was slow in developing. A Republican, he was elected vice chairman of his party district, but found himself in charge when the president was killed in a car crash a few weeks later. In 1967, he was elected mayor of Greenwood and served a pair of two-year terms.
“He and the council were split. half Republican and half Democrat. This division, he said, forced them to cooperate because dissension could end in stalemate. ...
“It was a different world, he said, but the passions of the 1960s rarely erupted in incident because of good communication.
“When Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, the city square served as the location for a memorial service that gathered thousands of people.
“Eventually, things changed. Schools integrated, the Uptown area succeeded in rerouting the railroad, which ran cars on rails down the center of Main Street, and Greenwood ‘then’ became Greenwood ‘now.’”
An Army pilot in the South Pacific during WWII and former chief pilot for Abney Mills, Nave was re-elected in 1986 and remained in office until 1994. He was succeeded by the current mayor, Floyd Nicholson. Nave has published his memoirs of his life, so far, in a volume titled “Luck or Providence.”

Burning up the court

June 2, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — With the summer heat coming on strong, many people from the Lakelands area head indoors to lower temperatures.
However, things have been heating up for some local youngsters inside the Ninety Six High School gymnasium this week.
Ninety Six basketball coach Ike Dickey is hosting the Wildcat Basketball Camp this week for boys and girls ages 6-13. This is the second consecutive year Dickey has conducted the camp.
“We’ve got a pretty good number out, about 30-35 kids,” Dickey said. “They really seem to be enjoying it this week.”
Dickey and his staff, which is composed of members of the Wildcats’ varsity basketball squad, have spent the week helping the youngsters develop their games and show improvement each day.
Dickey said the campers have especially enjoyed receiving instructions and support from the high school players.
“Each player is the coach of a certain group of campers,” Dickey said. “In the afternoon we have drills where the varsity players compete in competitions while the campers watch. They cheer for their coaches and whoop and holler and really get into it.”
One of the reasons Dickey has his varsity squad taking a hands-on role is because money raised at the camp goes toward sending the Wildcats to high school team camp at Lander University.
The campers are divided into three age and skill level groups: high school, college and pro. Each group competes daily in fundamental drills, one-on-one and team contests, free throw shooting and scrimmages.
Dickey said the refereeing of the games varies from group to group.
“In the pros, we have the coaches ref it close, calling walks, double dribbles and everything,” Dickey said. “In college, we let them get away with a little more. In the high school group, which is our youngest kids, we just want them to have fun and get to know the game.”
Dickey said he thinks every camper has improved his skills this week. He said he is especially encouraged when he sees younger campers who, at the beginning of the week, couldn’t even hit the rim begin hitting baskets and understanding the game.
One unique aspect of the Wildcat camp is the morning devotional each day.
The campers and counselors gather at the beginning of each session and discuss Bible stories that instill lessons such as patience, honesty and hard work. Dickey even had Westside Baptist Church minister Hal Lane in to deliver one of the devotionals.
“We want the kids to develop spiritually, as well as physically,” Dickey said. “It’s been a positive addition to the camp.”

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

Opinion

Violence against civilians never an acceptable act

June 2, 2006

President Bush says he is troubled by allegations that U. S. Marines killed unarmed Iraqi civilians, and “if in fact laws were broken, there will be punishment.”
That should be a “no-brainer.” If civilians were killed intentionally, and reports are that’s true, the punishment should be swift and decisive.
The recent reports said that a group of Marines opened fire on civilians after a Marine was killed by an explosion on an Iraqi roadside. One of the Marines who was wounded said it appeared the other Marines got so angry they lost control and shot the “civilians.”
Some South Carolinians who fought in other wars may have seen first-hand some blood-thirsty things that can occur in war - and does - on every side.

MOST AMERICANS ARE AWARE of that. Still, such a response in the Iraqi case should be out of the question.
That kind of reaction, while maybe explainable under the circumstances, is never excusable. It can never be condoned. In the first place, it’s contrary to the very honor that our troops must live by.
Some civilians, including women and children, have been involved in the overall violence against us and others. That can leave our troops as targets for killers that have the same appearance as every other “civilian.” Anyway, in civilian or military garb they still are threats
Nevertheless, in a world where hatred of Americans has fanned the flames of violence, it’s mandatory that we do everything possible to protect our reputation. Killing civilians obviously is harmful in that respect.
Furthermore, any excuse will be used by some who glory in denouncing anything and everything the U. S. does. Unfortunately, some are Americans.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, though, that if American troops do terrible things it involves only a very, very few. The vast majority of our forces represent us well ..... always.
That’s good. Still, training should include intense instructions about violating the rules of engagement and the Geneva Convention. We must do whatever is necessary so the rest of the world will know that we are indeed an honorable people. More than that, though, we must do it to prove it to ourselves ..... and live and fight accordingly.
It’s true, of course, that terrorists target civilians all the time. After all, almost 3,000 died in the 9/11 attack. However, if we apply the same kind of violence, we put ourselves on their level. That we are not. We can leave no doubts about that.

Obituaries

Barbara J. Brooks

Services for Barbara J. Peachey Brooks, of 501 Trakas Ave., are 1 p.m. Saturday at Beulah Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. W.J. Gist, assisted by the Rev. Emanuel Spearman. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
Visitation is this evening at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net

Maurice L. Groff

BUTLER, Ind. — Maurice Lee Groff, 72, of 321 Meadowmere Drive, husband of Ruth Albertson Groff, died Thursday, June 1, 2006 at the home of his son in Hodges, S.C.
Born in Edgerton, Ohio, he was a son of the late George and Helen Seibenaler Groff. He retired from Bard’s Manufacturing and was a World War II Army veteran, serving in France. He was a member of Independent Full Gospel Church, Ashley, Ind.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Daniel Lee Groff of Hodges; a twin sister, Doris Singleton of Garrett; a brother, Donald Groff of Edgerton; five grandchildren; a great grandchild.
A memorial service is 1 p.m. Monday at Independent Full Gospel Church, Ashley. Burial is in Maple Grove Cemetery, Edgerton.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenwood, is in charge.

Haynie-Gregory Infant

The infant child of Kimberly Haynie and Roger Gregory of Georgetown Apartments, died Wednesday, May 31, 2006 before birth.
Survivors include the parents; two brothers, Jayden Gregory of the home and Anthony Gregory of Ninety Six; grandparents, Charles “Skip” Haynie Jr. and Lynn Clark, both of Ninety Six, Debbie Haynie of Greenwood; great-grandparents, Margaret Haynie of Greenwood, Vernon and Peggy Clark of Ninety Six, Ray and Mary Nelson of West Virginia and Carl Westmoreland of North Carolina; great-great-grandparents, Ray and Ruth Anderson of Greenwood.
Burial will be at a later date in Oakbrook Memorial Park, after genetic testing.
The family is at the home.
Announcement courtesy of Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.

Columbus Wardlaw

McCORMICK — Services for Columbus Wardlaw, of 712 Pine St. Extension, are 1 p.m. Saturday at Holy Spring Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert Knox Jr. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 12.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are family and friends.
The family is at the home.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Mr. James Roger Waters

CALHOUN FALLS — Mr. James Roger Waters, 65, of Calhoun Falls, died May 31, 2006. Mr. Waters was a native of Calhoun Falls and retired from the textile industry. He was preceded in death by his Mother, Naomi Waters and brother, Bobby Waters.
Funeral services will be Friday at 3:00p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home with Rev. Virgil Manning officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Abbeville. Nephews, Rodney Ross, Mark Wade, Stacey Wade, Russ Wade, Sean Waters, Allen Waters and Clay Waters will serve as pallbearers.
Survivors include his wife, Brenda; Father, Clemson Waters, Calhoun Falls; sister, Judy Ross, Black Mtn., N.C.; sister-in-law, Carol Waters, Calhoun Falls; sister and brother-in-law, LaRue and George Wade, Elberton; 7 nephews and 2 nieces.
The family will receive friends Friday from 1:30 until service time.
Arrangements are in the care of Calhoun Falls Funeral Home, 864-418-8566.
PAID OBITUARY

Mary Bernice Woolridge

Services for Mary Bernice Woolridge, of 230 Cambridge Ave., Apt. 220, are 10 a.m. Saturday at Weston Chapel AME Church, conducted by the Rev. Willie N. Norman Jr. Assisting are the Revs. Dr. Ricky V. Syndab, James I. Leverette, Anderson Robinson Jr., Thessa G. Smith, Minister Melody Morton and Bishop Roosevelt Williams. The body will be placed in the church at 9. Burial is in The Evening Star cemetery.
Pallbearers are Michael Butler, Michael Anderson, Adrian Chappell, Corey Chappell, James J. Robinson and Byron W. Smith.
Flower bearers are Patricia Childs, Betty Dowtin, April Hill, Selaine Jenkins, Rosalyn Middleton and Tasha Morton.
Viewing begins at 1 p.m. today at Parks Funeral Home. No wake is planned.
Visitation is at the home of a daughter, 501 Haltiwanger Road, H-2.
Survivors include a sister Verstine Dickens of Washington, D.C.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.