District 50 board names
Johnson superintendent

May 24, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Darrell Johnson felt like a star twice Tuesday night. He was applauded by an audience of educators and friends of School District 50 when he walked through the door opened for him by board Chairwoman Dru James after the board’s vote for him as the new superintendent.
About 20 minutes later, and a few miles away from the district office, James spoke to about 200 people at The State of Greenwood event introducing Johnson again — again to a rousing applause.
“It’s always good to have a good interruption,” said Jeff Fowler, CEO of the Partnership Alliance, sponsor of the event in The Arts Center in the Federal Building.
“I appreciate the opportunity to come to Greenwood 50,” Johnson said after the board’s vote to offer him a three-year contract with an annual salary of $118,000.
“It was an honor to come for my second visit, and when I read the mission statement, I knew I had to come,” he said.
Johnson is replacing Bill Steed, who announced in February that he is retiring as District 50 superintendent. Johnson begins with District 50 July 1.
“I pledge to do the best I can, and work together as a team,” Johnson said. “This is where I want to be.”
Johnson has worked for Rock Hill School District Three since 1991, beginning as assistant principal at Rock Hill High School. After serving as assistant principal and principal for Sunset Park Elementary School, he moved to the district office in 1998 as director of student services. In 2001, he was named assistant superintendent.
Before his work in Rock Hill, Johnson was a teacher and coach for the Clover School District from 1986 - 1990, and worked for a year at the Rock Hill Herald newspaper.
He is a Winthrop University and South Carolina State University graduate.
Other finalists for the job were Gregory Cantrell, assistant superintendent for personnel and operations for Spartanburg School District Six, and Wanda Whatley, assistant superintendent for learning services at the Berkeley County School District.
James said the school board appreciates the ideas about the finalists and the search process offered by teachers, staff, parents, students and community residents. The South Carolina School Boards Association assisted the board with the search process. The board had a 20-minute closed meeting to discuss the contract offer to Johnson before its public, unanimous vote.
“We are happy that Dr. Johnson will join us here in Greenwood 50,” she said. “His skills and personal qualities were the best match for our district, and we look forward to working with him to advance our school district to the next level of excellence.”

*Tainted?

Most Greenwood area coaches say Bonds’ homer mark needs asterisk

May 24, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

San Francisco Giants baseball player Barry Bonds caught Babe Ruth’s career home run mark of 714.
But, will he be remembered most for that accomplishment or allegations of steroid use?
Allegations of performance-enhancing drug use have caused a cloud to form over Bonds’ career and his chase of the home run record owned by Hank Aaron, who hit 755.
Greenwood County high school and area college baseball coaches weighed in on Bonds’ feat and whether he should receive full credit from fans for his accomplishments as a slugger.
“I don’t think it’s legal,” Ware Shoals coach Vic Lollis said. “Steroids make you stronger, and I don’t think, if you use drugs, you should be recognized. I love baseball and I don’t think it’s right.”
Lollis said he thinks most of his young players feel the same, and that maybe the mark should go in the record books as a milestone helped by drugs, and, “There should be an asterisk” by his name.
Matt Huntsberger, Ninety Six High School coach, said, “I really don’t like it because it’s tainted. I would much rather see it tied by someone clean, other than somebody on steroids. That hurts the game.”
“It (alleged use of steroids) taints it,” he added. “He hasn’t been found guilty, but to show young people that you can do something wrong and still get credit is not a good lesson.”
Chad Woodson, coach at Greenwood Christian School, agrees that it’s a great achievement, “But, because of the allegations about steroids, it won’t be the same.”
“If steroids were involved, he shouldn’t be held in such high regard,” Woodson added.
Woodson said he thinks controversy surrounding the issue would send a positive message.
“If you want to hold a record with the best players, you need to go about it by playing right, not cheat to be able to do it,” he said.
Emerald coach Chad Evans said, “He’s (Bonds) an exceptional player, but I think the record, if and when he breaks it, will be tainted for Barry Bonds.
“I remember when he looked like he weighed 190, and now he looks like he weighs 260,” Evans said. “The average man doesn’t gain that kind of weight unless he’s done something to enhance his size and hitting ability. His hand-to-eye coordination can’t be helped by that. Obviously, he has the talent, but he has had some help along the way.”
Evans said the issue is not discussed that much around his players.
“We don’t talk a lot about that because it’s not as prevalent in high school sports as it is in pro sports. We stress to our players that they don’t need to do certain things. We haven’t had to deal with steroids.
“I do think it will taint his record, but I don’t think he’ll catch Hank.”
At the college level, Erskine College coach Kevin Nichols called it a “very special moment in baseball, but you compare the two (Bonds and Ruth) because of the times we live in.”
“Babe Ruth was hitting more home runs by himself than other teams were,” he added. “There is only one Babe Ruth, and nobody will every take his place.”
Nichols added, “It’s going to be tainted, there’s no doubt about it. Until he’s proven 100 percent innocent, he’s going to be guilty, because all the factors are there that says he did (use steroids). From 1988 to 2006, he looks like a different person, and you don’t do that without help.”
As for an asterisk, Nichols said, “If there’s going to be one by Roger Maris’ name, and I don’t see that, there should be one by his (Bonds’) name.”
Greenwood High School coach Brad Richardson had somewhat a different opinion on the issue.
“I can’t say definitely he has used enhancing agents or not, but to hit 714 home runs is quite a feat itself.”
Some people will take it in a negative way, he added. “As a matter of fact, there may be a large number who think that way, but you’ve still got to look at what he’s done and the number of home runs he’s hit.
“Whether enhancing drugs had anything to do with it or not, that is an awful lot of home runs to hit. You have to take your hat off to him for that feat.”
Richardson said he isn’t saying drugs helped Bonds hit that number of home runs, “because guys in the Major Leagues are strong anyway and don’t need drugs to hit the ball out of the park.”

Obituaries

Todd Nelson Ellis Sr.

DONALDS — Todd Nelson Ellis Sr., 65, husband of Jonell S. Ellis, died Saturday, May 20, 2006.
Born in Due West, he was a son of the late Oliver Nelson Ellis Sr. and Rosella Ward Ellis.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Marnita Pruitt; a son, Todd Nelson Ellis Jr.; two sisters, Lorraine Williams and Ruby Moses; two brothers, Oliver Ellis Jr. and Ralph Ellis; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Richie Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Odell Burns. Burial is in Mount Zion Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Due West.
Pallbearers are Aaron Nelson and friends of the family.
Flower bearers are Marnita Pruitt, Linda Smith, Maggie Williams, Marcella Ellis, Lermika Taylor and Crystal Mack.
Visitation is 1:30-2 today at the funeral home.
Richie Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.

June Franke

June Havens Franke, 82, of 145 Pin Oak Drive, widow of Darwin Lewis Franke, died Sunday, May 21, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Galeton, Pa., she was a daughter of the late John and Ada Woodhouse Havens. She was a graduate of Coudersport High School, Coudersport, Pa., and a member of Tranquil United Methodist Church and the Brockwell-Clark Sunday School Class.
Survivors include four daughters, Susan Prenatt, Melba Leach and Cynthia Dominick, all of Lexington, Ky., and Chaplin Bonnie Jean Franke of Columbia; a son, Lewis John Franke of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Tranquil United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mel Arrant. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Steve Dominick, Michael Dominick, Michael McGuirk, Bill Turner, Ernie Richey, Steven Turner, Eugene Hall and Ernie Summer.
Honorary escorts are members of the Brockwell-Clark Sunday School Class.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Tranquil United Methodist Church, 1702 McCormick Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646 or a charity of one’s choice.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Wilma Giles

ABBEVILLE — Wilma Hill Giles, 92, formerly of 1904 Highway 284, Nation Community, widow of Everett Giles, died Monday, May 22, 2006 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Henry and Rosalee Bowen Hill and stepdaughter of the late Troas Pruitt Hill. She was a graduate of Lowndesville High School and Volucia Business School, Dayton Beach, Fla. A retired textile employee with Milliken Textiles Abbeville Plant, she was a member of Bells United Methodist Church.
She was the last member of her immediate family. Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Bells United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Fred Buchanan and Hugh Bickley. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 1:30-2:30 today in the church social hall.
Memorials may be made to Bells United Methodist Church, 2540 Flat Rock Road, Abbeville, SC 29620.
Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chandlerjacksonfh.com

T.C. Williams

JACKSON, Miss. — T.C. Williams, 83, widower of Jessie V. Williams, died Saturday, May 20, 2006 in Meridian.
Born in Bernice, La., he was a son of the late Willie Mack and Josie Williams. He was a retired cheaufeur with Murphy/Monsanto Oil Co. and a member of New Bethel Baptist Church, El Dorado, Ariz.
Survivors include three daughters, Arma Boyd of Decatur, Ga., Jessie Varnado of Greenwood, S.C., and Linda Abdul Azeez of Ellenwood, Ga.; a son, Tony C. Williams of El Dorado; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at New Bethel Baptist Church, El Dorado.
Sims Funeral Home, 432 Liberty St., El Dorado, Ariz., is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.
Online condolences may be made to the family at pertompfh1.earthlink.net

Opinion

Will history be repeated? Will Iran follow Nazis?

May 24, 2006

There is no definite number of Jews, Gypsies and others that Adolf Hitler and his Nazis murdered in their brutal attempt to wipe them from the face of the earth. It’s generally believed they slaughtered about six million of Europe’s eight to nine million Jews ... men, women and children,
Many people around Greenwood and the Lakelands area remember how it was. The world saw it coming but did nothing to stop it. Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s defeat in World War I and set out to kill them all. Had this nation and its allies not won World War II, he likely would have succeeded.

IN POLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, Jews were herded into a Ghetto. From there they were systematically murdered. One of the laws Hitler mandated was that Jews had to wear yellow Stars of David on their clothing to identify them as Jews. Knowing what we know now, the effect that had is obvious. Jews were hunted down and “eliminated.” It was “ethnic cleansing” at its worst.
What does that have to do with today? Look at Iran. It is increasingly becoming a threat to people under its Islamic law. It also is a growing threat to the world with its nuclear ambitions and its accompanying and often demonstrated hatred of the West, particularly the United States.
It has been reported that a law is working its way through the Iranian parliament which encourages all Iranians to wear Islamic clothing to “protect the country’s Muslim identity...” And, in a report by the Canadian newspaper, The National Post, quoting Iranian exiles, the new law would force Jews, Christians and other religious minorities to wear special patches of colored cloth to distinguish them from Muslims.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT spokesman Sean McCormack said any such measure would be “despicable” and carry “clear echoes of Germany under Hitler ...”
Indeed it would. We have learned too late sometimes that history does repeat itself.
There are some doubts about the veracity of the report. However, Iran’s radical leaders have given every indication that such harsh rules would not be out of the question in their crazy world. It could well become reality.
When dealing with that kind of personality, the world cannot afford to look away as it did with Hitler.

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