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Runners’ fate to be reconsidered

Boys were kicked off Ninety Six team for skipping practice

October 11, 2006

By BOBBY HARELL
Index-Journal staff writer

The fate of several Ninety Six High School boys cross country runners is in the hands of the district’s athletic administration, school district board members said Tuesday night.
Ninety Six School District board of trustees members voted to ask Ninety Six Athletic Director Chuck Burton and cross country coach Sandi Zehr to reconsider the decision to kick several runners off the team after they were caught skipping practice last week.
Board members were divided about the outcome.
Trustee Michael Bryant said he wanted the boys to be kicked off the team because it wasn’t the first time the boys had skipped practices.
Trustee Butch Cobb wanted to punish the boys, but not kick them off the team. Being thrown off the team would feel like death to the boys, Cobb said.
The boys were dismissed from the team after failing to finish a “recovery run” Sept. 26 after the previous day’s cross country meet, said Stacey Longmire, a parent of one of the runners.
Longmire represented all the parents and their student-athletes booted off the team at the monthly board meeting at Ninety Six Primary School.
She read a statement illustrating why the boys should be punished, but let back onto the team.
Longmire said one group of boys stopped at a local church while another group stopped at a student’s home during the run.
Longmire said the parents agreed what the boys did was wrong, but thought Burton overreacted by throwing the boys off the team.
Some of the students admitted to not following the run prescribed by Zehr, but thought since it was their first offense, the punishment should be lighter.
Longmire said Burton was being strict to set an example to other students in his first year as athletic director. She also said Burton was using a very ambiguous policy in the student-athlete handbook to justify dismissing team members.
The athletic coach appeared at the meeting and defended his decision, saying Zehr agreed to kick the students off the team.
“As far as it being the students’ first offense, it was the first time they were caught,” Burton said.
He said he took the time to give Zehr a chance to calm down after discovering the runners not practicing.
Burton decided to stand by his decision after Zehr said she didn’t want the boys to be dismissed.
He said he followed the student handbook for the school, not the student-athlete handbook, when figuring out which punishment to issue. Zehr’s husband Russell read a statement fro
m her at the meeting asking the board to let the students back on the team.
In other news, District 52 went into a closed meeting to negotiate for some property. A counter offer was made, but nothing was decided, Superintendent Dan Powell said.

Runners’ fate to be reconsidered

Boys were kicked off Ninety Six team for skipping practice

October 11, 2006

By BOBBY HARELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Alaine Beard Byers

YORK — Mrs. Alaine (Maw Maw) Beard Byers, 82, departed this life on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006 at her home, 500 S. Congress St., York, SC.
Funeral services were Monday, Oct. 2, 2006 at Wesley United Methodist Church in York, SC.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving family of four sons, James Byers, Sr. (Brenda) of Due West, SC, Willie Byers, III (Vib) of York, SC, Larry Byers (Sonya) of Huntersville, NC and Charles Byers (Sarah) of York, SC and one daughter, Tonya Byers of Charlotte, NC; seven grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; three brothers; four sisters and a host of close friends and family.

Mary Frances Canfield

WATERLOO — Mary Frances Vaughn Canfield, 72, resident of 59 Easton Page Road, died Oct. 5, 2006 at her residence.
Born in Greenville County Sept. 7, 1934, she was a daughter of the late Arthur Hampton and Elizabeth Jeans Vaughn. She was retired from Monsanto and loved to attend Eanes Gospel Singings. She was of the Baptist faith and attended Shade Tree Revival Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Sandra Farmer of Ware Shoals; granddaughter Candace Dawn Timmerman of Ware Shoals; great-granddaughter Sean Reagan Biggart, also of Ware Shoals; three brothers, Arthur Vaughn of Pelzer, Albert “Pee-Wee” Vaughn of Asheville, NC, and Bill Vaughn of Ware Shoals. She was preceded in death by her son, Robert Bruce Stevenson.
Memorial services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Wednesday from the chapel of Blyth Funeral Home with Reverend Chuck Sprouse and Reverend Grady Lothridge officiating.
Entombment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Canfield family.

John B. Carroll

John B. Carroll, 56, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at 622 Edgefield St.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Pearlena Clinkscales

BELTON — Mrs. Pearlena T. Clinkscales, age 71, of 305 Cedar Lane, Belton, S.C., passed away Monday, Oct. 9, 2006 at her home.
A native of Greenwood, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Clarence Thomas and Henrietta Gilliam Thomas. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Belton, S.C., and was a member of Eastern Star, #206 Thomasena Chapter. She received her BA degree from S.C. State University and a master’s of education from Clemson University.
Survivors include her husband, Mr. Fleet L. Clinkscales of the home; one daughter, Bernadette Clinkscales Richardson of Taylors, S.C.; one brother, George Watson of Greenwood, S.C.; one grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Belton with burial in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home.
The Holloway’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Willie Mae Harrison

SALUDA — Willie Mae Harrison, 88, formerly of 12 Hightower Road, McCormick, SC, died Oct. 9, 2006 at the Saluda Nursing Center.
She was born in Edgefield County, SC, a daughter of the late James (Bud) and Emma Lewis Harrison. She was a member of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and a retired domestic worker.
She was the last survivor of her immediate family. She is survived by a host of cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Plum Branch, SC, conducted by the pastor, Reverend Melvin Gordon. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The body will be placed in the church at noon on Friday.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are the church family.
Public viewing will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of her cousin, Mrs. Eliza L. Settles, 12 Hightower Road, McCormick, SC.
Butler and Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Doris Irwin

CLINTON — Doris Smith Irwin, 84, of Highway 76, formerly of Cross Hill, widow of Ollie Irwin, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at NHC Healthcare in Clinton.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Greenwood.

Dorothy M. Reeder

Dorothy May Reeder, 74, of 103 Lauren Circle, widow of Billy Ray Reeder Sr., died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Clarence Lain May Sr. and Mary Smith May. She was retired from Capsugel and a member of Noose Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, and Cross Hill Baptist Church.
She was predeceased by a son, Robert Charles Maye, a brother, Clarence Lain May and a grandson, Jack Franklin Bobo.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Bobby “Diane” Bobo of Hodges, Mrs. Cindy Groulx of St. Augustine, FL, and Mrs. Maria Todd Martin of Greenwood; one son, Anthony “Tony” Maye of Greenwood; two stepdaughters, Susan “Susie” Riddle and Connie Burger; two stepsons, Billy Ray Reeder Jr. and Mike Reeder; one brother, Jackson F. May of Orlando FL.; seven grandchildren, Robert Joel Bobo, Dewayne Todd, Kayla Todd, Stephen Paul Maye, Carol Rena Maye, Robert Anthony Maye and Joshua Tanner Young.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J.B. Abercrombie and the Rev. Jim Warred officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be nephews and great nephews.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, Memorials & Tributes, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA., 23058-5216 or to the American Cancer Association, P.O. Box 1741, Greenwood, SC, 29648.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Bill Richardson

William Frederick “Bill” Richardson, 92, resident of 108 Lawton Street and Wesley Commons, widower of Gell Morgan Richardson, died Oct. 6, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Dobbs Ferry, NY, March 3, 1914, he was a son of the late Thomas and Sarah Jane Sollers Richardson. He was a US Army Veteran of WWII where he was recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Formerly of Farmingdale, Long Island, NY, he had made his home in Greenwood since 1960. A former employee of Parke-Davis Co., Greenwood, he retired in 1979 from the SC Highway Department.
Mr. Richardson was a member of Lupo United Methodist Church where he had served on the Finance and Stewardship Committees. He was also a life member of the American Legion Post #20 and DAV Post #42.
Surviving are a son, Thomas W. and wife Rebecca D. Richardson of Jackson, MS and two grandchildren, Morgan Kotlarczyk of Fisher, IN and Bradley Richardson of Summit, MS.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Carol Peppers-Wray officiating.
Entombment with Military Honors will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Active pallbearers will be Bobby Jones, James Creswell, Harry Nickles, Ted Walker, Darryl Porterfield, Paul Hemingway, James Hudson and Hugo Morgan.
Honorary escort will be members of American Legion Post # 20, Members of Post #42 of the DAV along with Harper Daniel, Gene Pinson, Dr. Wiley Price, Dr. George Cone, Dr. Mims Mobley, Dr. Carlos Manalich and Dr. Allan Turner.
The body is at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Richardson family.

Raymond R. Smith

ABBEVILLE — Raymond R. Smith, 52, of 334 Calhoun Apartments, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at HospiceCare of the Piedmont, Greenwood.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Christopher Tucker

HOSCHTON, Ga. — Christopher “Chris” Tucker, age 24, of Hoschton, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006 in the Lawrenceville Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home. Pastor John Abrahms will officiate. Chris was a restaurant manager and was preceded in death by his grandfather, Eugene Moses. He is survived by father, Ralph H. Tucker Jr., South Carolina; mother, Linda Tucker, Hoschton; brothers, Trevor Tucker, Spartanburg, S.C., Troy Tucker, Blacksburg, N.C.; sister, Tracwey Tucker, Raleigh, N.C.; and grandmother, Josephine Moses, Omaha, Neb.
Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 300 Simonton Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. 770-962-3100. Please sign online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com.

Can you dig it?

Lander's Melissa Trippany can, in a record-setting way

October 11, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

While they might not show up big in box score or on highlight shows, most coaches and sports fans love a player that does the dirty work.
Whether it’s an offensive lineman in football, a catcher in softball or baseball, or a rebound-happy forward in basketball, every team requires a hard-nosed player to do the job that doesn’t necessarily get all the glory.
Lander University volleyball player Melissa Trippany recently achieved a statistic that makes her Lander’s all-time leader in a “dirty work” category.
On Sept. 9, in a game against Tusculum, Trippany became the Lady Bearcats’ all-time leader in digs in a career with 1,374. Kim Abercrombie, who played at Lander from 1998-2001, was the previous career leader.
A dig is a maneuver in which a player saves a ball from touching the ground after an opponent spikes the ball. It is a largely defensive tactic, one often employed by players at the libero position, which Trippany plays.
The junior, from Fort Myers, Fla., said she was thrilled to set a new school mark.
“I was excited,” Trippany said. “My parents were the ones that first let me know I had broken the record. I had a goal to break it, I just didn’t know where I stood at that time.”
Trippany said she loves playing the libero position, a spot that was introduced into NCAA play in 2002. “It’s the best position to play,” Trippany said. “It puts me in the middle of everything.”
Trippany and the Lady Bearcats have been enjoying a resurgent year, having a record of 17-10 so far. That is a stark improvement after winning only nine games a year ago.
Trippany said the team has worked hard under first-year coach Carla Decker.
“We wanted to put last year behind us,” Trippany said. “That was just awful. “Coach Decker really motivates us and gets the most out of each other. It feels good to have played quite a bit better this year.”
Decker had high praise for her junior libero.
“She is obviously a very good passer,” said Decker, who arrived at Lander this year after a stint at West Virginia Wesleyan. “She is a very skilled communicator. She really plays with a lot of consistency.”
Decker said Trippany has a goal to become the all-time digs leader in the Peach Belt Conference. The current leader is Francis Marion senior Jessica Strader, who surpassed the previous PBC record of 1,753 earlier this year.
“I think I have a chance,” Trippany said. “She is graduating this year, and I have the rest of this year and all next year to catch her. I’m sure my dad and mom will keep me up to date on where I stand.”
The Lady Bearcats are back in action at 6 tonight with a home game against Newberry at Finis Horne Arena.
Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

What’s deal on gasoline? Refining or supply of oil?

October 11, 2006

Driving around Greenwood motorists can see the price of a gallon of gasoline has gone down considerably in the past couple of weeks. It may vary a few cents from brand to brand, but generally it’s a significant improvement. It may not stay that way for long, to be sure, but it’s welcome while it lasts.
Watch out for OPEC, though. That’s the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It’s already saying there’s too much oil on the market so there are proposals to cut back on the pumping to reduce the flow and, thus, the availability of oil.
That - you guessed it - would raise the prices again.
Something just doesn’t make sense, though. All along the experts have been saying the availability of oil has not been the problem.

THE REASON FOR SHORTAGES and the higher prices, they have been saying, is a lack of “refining”capacity. That is, there’s not enough facilities to refine enough oil and turn it into enough gasoline to keep the market and the prices stable.
So ..... if there’s only so much refining capacity, what difference would it make if there’s too much oil being pumped, anyway? What is it? Oil supply or refining capacity? Why would cutting back on the amount of petroleum taken out of the ground affect the price of a gallon of gasoline if refining is the problem?
It appears to be neither the amount pumped out of the ground or refined but how it’s all manipulated. Is that it?
It’s hard to believe the “refining” excuse. People who remember the Arab oil embargo in the early Seventies remember it created gasoline shortages here. You have to wonder who’s fooling whom?