South
Carolina Supreme Court suspends
local chief magistrate, part-time judge
May 5, 2006
By
VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor
Greenwood County Chief Magistrate Joe Cantrell has been suspended
from office, the latest move in a weeks-long investigation that
has shaken the magistrates office with two arrests and
resulted in county council calling for Cantrells immediate
resignation.
Cantrell was suspended Thursday without pay by South Carolina
Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal. Toal and the states
Court Administration have jurisdiction over magistrates. Toal
also suspended part-time Magistrate Judge Lisa Cain without pay.
Papers were delivered by the Attorney Generals office
between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday.
Cain has been arrested and charged in connection with allegations
of missing funds from the magistrates office. Cantrell has
not been charged in connection with the case.
Toal named Associate Chief Magistrate Judge Bart McGuire to
replace Cantrell and Lasonia Williams was named associate chief
magistrate.
In the signed orders from Toal, Cantrell and Cain are prohibited
from having access to any funds, bank accounts or records from
any court in the state.
Neither is allowed to enter Central Traffic Court unless given
permission by McGuire and escorted by law enforcement.
The orders also require McGuire and the town administrator for
Ware Shoals to take possession of all books, records, funds,
property and documents related to their judicial offices.
Toals orders also remove Cantrell from the Board of
Magistrate and Municipal Judge Certification and the Commission
of Judicial Conduct.
Greenwood County Council, meanwhile, took its own action Thursday
in response to the trouble at the magistrates office.
Cantrells immediate resignation was called for
by county council, in light of what a council resolution called
the persistent failure of the magistrate to run the
office and in light of the loss of public funds.
Two employees of the magistrates office, Cain and a clerk,
have been arrested and charged in connection with allegations of
missing money in the office.
Because of the allegations and an ongoing investigation, county
council approved a resolution calling for the immediate
resignation of Joe C. Cantrell, chief magistrate.
Cantrell did not attend the called council meeting at which the
resolution was approved. Dee Compton, chairman of the councils
Justice Committee, said it was because Cantrell was playing golf.
The chief magistrate was aware of the meeting today,
Compton said.
He was to serve in traffic court but Judge McGuire served
for him. Instead of being concerned with the gravity of the
matter, hes out playing golf. Nero is fiddling while Rome
is burning. A phone message left for Cantrell at his office
on Thursday was not returned. Cantrell has refused to take
reporters calls in the past.
This is a very strong statement, Compton said. We
have absolutely no confidence in the chief magistrate.
There has been gross mismanagement, and Cantrell has not
been candid and may have obstructed the investigation. It is
appropriate that we call for his immediate resignation.
Council also adopted a resolution in support of the magistrates
office personnel who have not been implicated in the missing
money situation. It read, in part, the employees in the
magistrates office who were not involved in any wrongdoing
have unfairly been put under a cloud of suspicion.
The county council expresses its strong support to those
employees in the magistrates office who were not involved
in any wrongdoing. Those employees have the full confidence of
the county council, and the county council is grateful for their
loyal service.
The resolution points out that the council does not have
jurisdiction over the magistrates office, even though the
office and its court are located in the Greenwood County
Courthouse.
County council is offering to the employees of the magistrates
office its assistance to recover from these unfortunate
events and assistance in putting in place procedures to
help prevent similar occurrences in the future, the
resolution says.
In addition to Cain, Greenwood County Sheriffs Office
investigators have arrested and charged Toni Cole, of Greenwood,
a clerk in the office, with grand larceny in connection with the
alleged theft of more than $22,000 in public funds from the
office.
Three other magistrates office employees were questioned
this week, but none were arrested.
Sheriffs investigators and State Law Enforcement Division
agents are handling the investigation, now in its fourth week.
Thursdays resolutions, both unanimously approved by county
council, were the first extensive public comments about the
matter from the Greenwood County administration.
Compton said Tuesday that sheriffs officers had briefed
members of the Justice Committee on the status of the
investigation.
Council members met in closed session for 30 minutes Thursday to
discuss personnel and to receive legal advice about the
magistrates office situation before voting in open session
on the resolutions.
Cantrell has not yet commented publicly about the investigation
or how the magistrates office would operate with limited
personnel. As chief magistrate, Cantrell presided at an initial
court appearance for the man charged in one of the Lakelands
most high-profile cases Steven Bixbys double murder
charge for allegedly shooting two Abbeville County law
enforcement officers to death in December 2003.
Kier said Tuesday that the magistrates office had lost
at least one employee. (The magistrates office) is
doing OK, he said, and we will take steps to make
sure there is proper staffing in the office, even if we have to
move people in from other departments that are familiar with
bookkeeping. ... We are concerned that things function properly.
Compton said county council wants full restitution to be part of
any court order when Cain and Cole are prosecuted.
Second mistrial declared in local murder case
May 5, 2006
By
VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor
For the second time this year, a Greenwood County jury failed to
reach a verdict on the murder and kidnapping charges against a
Greenwood man arrested and charged in the November 2004 shooting
death of another local man.
Charles Vandross was charged with murder in the shooting death of
Sanford Best, of Greenwood, kidnapping in the alleged abduction
of Joann Suber Wilson from her Promised Land home, first-degree
burglary and possession of a weapon during commission of a
violent crime.
A mistrial was declared Thursday, just after the jury ate lunch,
when At-Large Circuit Judge James Barber was told they were
deadlocked. Another jury failed to reach a verdict in January.
Obviously, we had hoped for a verdict of not guilty based
on the evidence, said defense attorney Lance Sheek. The
fact that this is the second time they have tried this man
without a verdict speaks a lot to the evidence the state has.
Sheek said he will seek a bond hearing for Vandross, who has been
held without bond since the incident. If the prosecution cannot
retry the case this year, Vandross will have been in custody 2
1/2 years without having been convicted of anything, he said.
Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace said he will call the case
for trial a third time. When is uncertain, he said.
The Eighth Circuit will have a capital trial for Steven Bixby, on
a double murder charge in connection with the shooting deaths of
two Abbeville County law officers in 2003, in October.
Not a clue, Peace said about a Vandross retrial date.
Right now the Abbeville case will take a tremendous amount
of time. I will have to look at the schedule and see.
Peace said he will talk to jurors if any want to discuss the
mistrial. Sheek said he never has talked to jurors I
believe jury deliberations are sacred but he
conceded there are questions he would like to have answered.
It was unusual, he said of the jurys
deliberations.
The trial started Monday. Jurors deliberated four hours Wednesday
afternoon before Barber let them go home for the evening. Jurors
asked for reinstruction on the burglary charge and Barber did
that Thursday morning. Jurors deliberated four hours Thursday
before being dismissed.
Vandross has not testified at either trial. The state led its
case with testimony from Wilson, who said Vandross, her former
fiancee, duct-taped her head and hands before making her drive
away from her McCormick Highway home for a six-hour ordeal.
He ranted and raved about their rocky relationship,
she said, and, at one point, told her he had shot Best to death
as Best lay in Wilsons bed. She said Vandross was jealous
of anyone she knew and she had ended their engagement because of
his jealousy.
The ordeal ended, Wilson said, when Vandross decided near dawn to
have her drive back home and get her sons ready to catch the
school bus. Inside her home, hurrying her sons to get outside,
Wilson said she called 911 on a cell phone and Wilson was
arrested without incident.
Vandross could have received sentences of life without parole for
the murder and burglary charges, 30 years for the kidnapping
charge and five years for the weapon charge.
Dist.
50 board names finalists
for superintendent position
May 5, 2006
From
staff reports
The Greenwood School District 50 Board of Trustees has narrowed
to three the field of candidates seeking to replace retiring
Superintendent Bill Steed.
The finalists are: Gregory Cantrell, assistant superintendent for
personnel and operations for Spartanburg School District Six;
Darrell Johnson, assistant superintendent for Rock Hill School
District Three; and Wanda Whatley, assistant superintendent for
learning services at the Berkeley County School District.
We are pleased with the quality of the applicants and are
excited to bring the finalists to Greenwood for another visit,
Board Chairwoman Dru James said.
We look forward to visiting the finalists home
districts to find out more about them. Any of the three are
capable of leading our district as we continue to provide
students the best education possible.
Tentative plans call for district board members to visit the
finalists Wednesday through May 12, with the finalists visiting
Greenwood again possibly May 16 and 17.
The exact schedule will depend on the availability of finalists.
The South Carolina School Boards Association conducted a national
search. Twenty-five candidates applied for the position.
Steed announced in February that he would retire at the end of
the school year.
Cantrell has a Bachelor of Arts from Lander University, a masters
degree in education from Clemson University and a doctorate in
education from South Carolina State University.
Hes worked in his current position at Spartanburg District
Six since 2003. Before that, he worked for four years with the
district as director of personnel. He previously worked at Wren
Middle School as a principal, teacher and coach.
Among his awards, he received the William B. Harley Award as
South Carolina Administrator of the year in 2005.
Whatley has a Bachelor of Science and masters degree in
education from the University of Georgia, and has an educational
specialist degree and a doctorate in philosophy from the
University of South Carolina.
She has been in her current position in Berkeley County since
2003. Before that, she was assistant superintendent for
instruction at Lexington County School District Three from
1996-03, was instructional coordinator at Batesburg-Leesville
Middle School from 1994-96 and was director of a program for
at-risk youths at Chapin High School from 1990-92.
Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts, a masters in education
degree and a educational specialist degree from Winthrop
University. He has a doctorate in education leadership from South
Carolina State University.
He has been at his current position in Rock Hill since 2001.
Before that, he was director of student services at the district.
He was principal of Sunset Park Elementary in the Rock Hill
school district from 1994-97 and was assistant principal at the
school from 1993-94.
He was an assistant principal at Rock Hill High School (1991-93),
a language arts/journalism teacher and basketball coach from
1988-90 at Clover Junior High School, and a English teacher and
assistant football and girls track coach at Clover Junior High
(1986-88).
He also worked at a business/city reporter at The Herald
newspaper in Rock Hill from 1984-85.
Johnson has been a NCAA Division I regional basketball tournament
official.
Greenwood,
Lakelands residents
gather to offer thanks to the Lord
May 5, 2006
By
VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor
Prayer is something we all can do for America, for
South Carolina and for the Greenwood community, said Carolyn
Smith, who came to the county courthouse on a sun-drenched spring
day to offer thanks to the Lord.
In observance of the 55th annual National Day of Prayer on
Thursday, Smith said her special prayers this year are for
hurricane-affected people in Louisiana and for genocide victims
in the Sudan.
I went to Louisiana for two weeks two separate times. I
love em. I fell in love with the people. It was
heart-breaking, she said. And the Sudan, my heart
breaks for them. So many are hurt, there is so much pain in the
world and it does not have to be that way.
People participating in the event on the front portico of the
courthouse listened to praise music, gave a unison reading to the
2006 National Prayer penned by Henry Blackaby, author, pastor and
this years national honorary chairman, and offered their
own prayers.
Prayer subjects ranged from the youths of the community and
families, to the national, state and local leaders and area
ministers.
Tim Keeler prayed that Greenwood, South Carolina the
place where you have placed us be dissatisfied on our
hearts until were at peace with those around us.
A worship leader at Calvary Chapel and participant in Fusion, a
20-somethings ministry at North Side Baptist Church, Keller
performed Humble King and other music for the
observance. The prayer that God has put on my heart is for
Greenwood to be united, he said. Thats a big
key to God working in our town, to see Gods kingdom come on
earth.
Richard Saxson, pastor of North Greenwood Church of God, prayed
for Americas, South Carolinas and Greenwoods
families.
I see families that are broken, hurt and in crisis,
he said. It is a combination of problems. There are
economic issues but there is also spirituality. The devil is
fighting the family. It is a God-ordained institution. If the
devil breaks the family, he will break society. Nationally,
the events theme was America, Honor God, and
was based on 1 Samuel 2:30 NIV Those who honor me, I
will honor.
Observances were conducted in public venues throughout the nation
for people to pray for the nation, government leaders, media,
churches, families and schools. Blackabys Experiencing
Prayer with Jesus was this years theme book.
Missile strikes Uptown again
Ivan Cuban Missile Dominguez repeats as cycling challenge champion
May 5, 2006
By
DAVID HAYS
Special to the Index-Journal
The Cuban Missile has struck in Greenwood again.
Ivan Dominguez won the fourth annual Uptown Greenwood Pro Cycling
Challenge for the second year in a row Thursday night, beating a
field of more than 100 pro and amateur riders from around the
world.
Kids, dont try this at home! Dominguez shouted
after blazing to the finish line a split second ahead of a blur
of bright colored jerseys to win the 70-lap criterium on the
streets of downtown Greenwood.
Dominguez, affectionately known on the tour as the Cuban Missile,
also won for the second consecutive night. He won a criterium in
Walterboro Wednesday.
Yesterday was a hard day. I was a little bit tired,
Dominguez said. Today, I like this race. It is very fast.
During the last few hectic laps, he and another rider actually
bumped handlebars. In the end, everything worked out for the
29-year-old Cuban.
I put my guys in the front. They keep the speed high for
the last two or three laps. Everything went perfect, said
Dominguez, racing for the Toyota United Pro Cycling Team.
Brice Jones of team Jelly Belly finished as the runner-up in
Greenwood for the second time. Dominguez teammate Juan Jose Haedo
claimed third. Dominguezs winning time over the
approximately 56-mile course was one hour, 41 minutes and 15
seconds. The 29-year-old claimed the first place share of the
$10,000 purse. I won last year when I was riding for
HealthNet. I was very close in 2003, but something happened and I
wasnt able to win, Dominguez said. It feels
great. I feel much better today than yesterday.
Dominguez, who lives in Los Angeles and is still a Cuban citizen,
hung around for autographs and congratulatory messages from the
fans.
I love it. Its nice to see people coming to you and
asking questions. I dont have any problems staying a little
longer, he said.
The Uptown Greenwood Pro Cycling Challenge is part of the 2006
USA CRITS (Criterium Racing in the States) Cycling Series along
with races in Walterboro, Spartanburg, Athens, Ga., Roswell, Ga.,
and Anniston, Ala. Dominguez finished second in Roswell and
eighth in Athens, with the Spartanburg and Anniston races
upcoming.
A criterium is a multi-lap race in a closed course typically less
than one mile long. This racing discipline has bred a unique type
of cyclist who must demonstrate top speed and bike handling
skills. The criterium has been referred to as Americas
contribution to bicycle racing because it provides an
up-close and personal glimpse at the fast-paced sport. The riders
maintain a speed as high as 25-35 miles per hour on aerodynamic
bicycles that cost in the thousands of dollars.
The 1.10-kilometer, four-turn course in Greenwood began at the
corner of Court and Main streets, running in a clockwise
direction with right turns on to Washington, Monument and Maxwell
back to the start/finish line at Court and Main. It look the
riders less than two minutes per lap with a pace car leading the
way, with the leaders clocking as fast as 1:20.
Merchandise and cash prizes were awarded to the winner of
specially designated laps called preems. The total purse for the
entire series is $75,000.
Prior to the race, many children participated in a youth bike
rodeo, safety clinic and helmet giveaway while a few even
competed in races on the same course as the pros.
We here a lot about kids are not exercising,
Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson said. It means a lot for
them to come out and see these professional cyclists.
The race was made possible through the efforts of the Greenwood
Cycling Club, the City of Greenwood, Greenwood County, Uptown
Greenwood Development Corporation, Greenwood Partnership
Alliance, McCallum Orthodontics, State Farm Agent Frank Coyle,
the Greenwood Safe Kids Coalition, the support of Senator John
Drummond, and several additional local sponsors.
Opinion
Agreement
on soft drinks creates room for sarcasm
May 5, 2006
Write
your own editorial!
Stopping the sale of high-calorie soda pops in public schools is
probably for the best. However, it does create some interesting
comparisons ..... not to mention opportunities for a little
sarcasm in the process.
That has come about, of course, because of an agreement with
several bottling companies and their association to sell only
diet drinks at high schools and only unsweetened juice, low-fat
milk and bottled water at elementary and middle schools.
The object, of course, is to help school children maintain
healthier lives and fight obesity, which has been deemed one of
the worst health problems that all of us face, not just our
children.
It does seem strange, though, that children will not be able to
get the real thing in their school drinks. At the
same time, experience shows that they can get almost anything
else, from condums to drugs, not to mention picking up on how to
talk trash ..... and worse. Then theres that little matter
of teen pregnancy.
They are, to be sure, existing in a learning/teaching
environment. Therefore, it makes it easier for students to learn
that obesity is to be avoided if they know whats what. The
other lessons?
Write your own editorial!
Obituaries
Melvin Bolden
LAURELTON,
N.Y. Melvin Bolden, 54, widower of Cheryl Rogers Bolden,
died Saturday, April 29, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, S.C., he was a son of Elease Syrkett Bolden
and the late Lawyer Frank Bolden. He was a member of Old Mount
Zion Baptist Church, Epworth, S.C., attended East End Elementary
and Brewer High School, was a 1970 Greenwood High School graduate
and attended Massey Business College, Jacksonville, Fla.,
1970-71. Moving to New York in his early twenties, he retired
from Long Island Railroad as a third rail mechanic after 28 years
of service.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; twin brother, Marvin
Bolden of Decatur, Ga.; three sisters, Tanist Denise Bolden,
Carolyn Bolden Tolbert and Stella Jones, all of Greenwood.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Old Mount Zion Baptist Church,
Epworth, with Minister Carolyn Bolden Tolbert officiating and the
Rev. Clyde D. Cannon presiding. Assisting are the Rev. Michael
Butler and Minister Katherina Bowyer.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are members of Brewer High and
Greenwood High School Classes of 1970. Visitation is Saturday at
the home of his mother, Elease Bolden, 526 E. Cambridge Ave.
Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge of local
arrangements.
Lula Ray Campbell Garrett
Services
for Lula Ray Campbell Garrett, of 1306 Yvonne Ave., are 2 p.m.
Sunday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Coronaca, with the Rev.
Bernard White officiating and the Rev. William L. Moore
presiding. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30. Burial
is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are church Deacon Board members.
Flower bearers are church Missionary Society members.
The family is at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com
Sigrid Garrett
PRINCETON
Sigrid Schunk Garrett, 70, of 13136 Highway 25, wife of
Billy Garrett Sr., died Thursday, May 4, 2006 at Self Regional
Medical Center, Greenwood.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, she was a daughter of the late Willy
and Anna Desher Schunk. She was retired from Parke-Davis Medical
Products, Honea Path plant and was a member of Calvary Baptist
Church, Williamston.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Brenda
G. Martin of Greenwood and Patty G. Jennings of Charlotte, N.C.;
two sons, Billy J. Garrett Jr. of Greenwood and Gary L. Garrett
of Honea Path; a sister, Anna Liese Curry of Colorado Springs,
Colo.; a brother, Carlhines Schunk of New Isenburg, Germany;
eight grandchildren.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home,
conducted by the Rev. Alvin Hodges. Visitation is at the funeral
home after the service.
The family is at the home of Billy Garrett Jr., 308 Reflections
Drive, Gatewood, Greenwood. Memorials may be made to American
Diabetes Association, PO Box 10794, Greenville, SC 29603. Blyth
Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com
Wallace Sutton
Samuel
Wallace Sutton Sr., 65, of 3416 Callison Highway, husband of
Cheryl Marie Harn Sutton, died Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at his
home.
Born in Graham, N.C., he was a son of the late Lawrence H. and
Frances Gurkin Sutton. He had lived in Greenwood since 1997 and
was owner and operator of Suttons Small Engine Repair.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Samuel Sutton Jr.
of the home; a daughter, Dana Marie Sutton Lee of Snow Cap, N.C.;
a stepdaughter, Amanda Lynn Culbertson of Greenwood; a stepson,
H. Ryan Wymer of Burlington, N.C.; two sisters, Mrs. Wayne
(Frances) McElroy Sr. of Greenwood and Mrs. Robert (Sarah)
Rodriguez of Boise, Idaho; three brothers, Albert G. Sutton of
Elon College, N.C., Lawrence Buddy Sutton of New
Ellenton and Michael Sutton of Aiken; seven grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by
the Rev. Howard Thompson. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Lawrence Buddy Sutton, Michael
Sutton, Wayne McElroy Sr., Wayne McElroy Jr., Brian Bubba
Hicks, Jeff Holliday and Jesse Dorn.
Visitation is 5-7 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W.
Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646. Blyth Funeral Home &
Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com
Nellie White
LEXINGTON, SC Nellie Elizabeth Betsy Todd
White, 74, wife of Donald B. White of 432 Corley Street, died
Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at Palmetto Cancer Center in Columbia.
She was born in Middleton, GA, a daughter of the late Marvin P.
and Mildred Anderson Todd. She was an Administrative Assistant
for Blue Cross Blue Shield before retirement and was of the
Methodist Faith.
Nellie is survived by her husband of Lexington: one son, Dean
Malone of Ware Shoals; four daughters, Gail Hudson of Atlanta,
Laura M. Beauford of Ware Shoals, Wanda Woodruff of Newberry, and
Heide W. Perry of Wasilla, Alaska; one brother, Sidney F. Todd of
Atlanta, GA; three sisters, Lucy Downs of Charleston, Joyce
Ovrick of Atlanta, and Linda Satterfield of Honea Path. She has
fifteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at
Parker-White Funeral Home with Mr. David Woodruff officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Todd Vieaux, Paul Ezell, Walter Downs,
Keith Jones, Robin McCoy, Daniel Satterfield, Charles Watson, and
Brian Giacomel.
The family will receive friends Friday 6-9:00 P.M. at
Parker-White Funeral Home and after the graveside service at The
Mt. Olive Community Center in Ware Shoals.
PAID OBITUARY
Eleanor Wilson
ABBEVILLE,
SC Eleanor Wallace Wilson, 96, resident of 599
Watts Rd. Watts Community widow of James Franklin Wilson, Sr.
died Wednesday May 3, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Hampton, GA she was a daughter of the late John Henry and
Rhoda Simms Wallace.
She was a homemaker and former Lunch Room Manager at Old Sharon
School. She was also a member of Warrenton Presbyterian Church.
Survivors are: 1 daughter Juanita Finley and her husband Jimmy of
Abbeville, 1 son James Frank Wilson and his wife Jean of
Abbeville, SC, 1 brother Grier Simms Wallace of Lawrenceville, GA
and 7 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday May 6, 2006 at 2:00
PM at Warrenton Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ed Kirkpatrick
officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery. The
family is at the home of her daughter Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Finley
1193 McDill Rd. Abbeville, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. The family will
receive friends Saturday 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Warrenton
Presbyterian Church prior to services.
Memorials may be made to Warrenton Presbyterian Church 191 Watts
Rd. Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Wilson family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF
ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY