Additional records requested

Schools’ bond plan faces 5 more FOIA inquiries

October 29, 2006

By R. SHAWN LEWIS
Index-Journal managing editor

Greenwood County Councilman Dee Compton has hit the District 50 school system with five more Freedom of Information Act requests concerning the bond installment proposal, The Index-Journal learned late Friday.
Compton, who is an attorney, issued 24 FOIA requests on Oct. 20 and gave District 50 15 days to respond. He, as well as state Rep. Mike Pitts, have expressed concerns that the district’s bond plan is unconstitutional.
The councilman said he hopes the additional FOIA requests will shine light on District 50’s decision to issue $150 million in revenue bonds “in circumvention of the state’s constitutional limit on bonded indebtedness.”
The new requests “seek all e-mail or other documents in the possession of the board discussing the installment purchase bond plan, or which call special unannounced meetings, or seek a consensus of the board in violation of the Freedom of Information Act and the written policy of the board,” Compton said in a news release.
“After lengthy discussions with one board member, it is clear that the board is violating its own code of conduct, its own policy regarding open meetings and also the Freedom of Information Act,” he said.
The new FOIA requests include:
* Providing a copy of the superintendent’s, the assistant superintendent’s and the secretary’s appointment calendars from Jan. 1, 2000, to the present;
* Providing copies of all phone message slips for the superintendent, assistant superintendent and the superintendent’s secretary from Jan. 1, 2000 to the present;
* Providing a copy of all e-mail sent by chairwoman Dru James to the superintendent, assistant superintendent or Mrs. Temple, as well as providing all e-mails sent from the superintendent, assistant superintendent or Mrs. Temple’s e-mail to the chairwoman from Jan. 1, 2000 to the present;
* Providing the minutes, recordings or transcripts of all official or unofficial committee meetings or sessions, regardless of nomenclature, whereby the chairwoman and/or any other board members met with the superintendent, assistant superintendent or any consultants or any other person at the district offices or any other location, whereby school business was discussed in any particular from Jan. 1, 2000 to the present.
* Documenting any and all meetings whereby the chairwoman, any other board member or members met with the superintendent, vice superintendent or any consultant to discuss the proposed bond program in any particular from Jan. 1, 2000 to the present.
“It is important for the public to know how these decisions were made — and on what data they are supported,” Compton said.
He asked that the board honor this second round of FOIA requests within 15 days.
Copies of the requests were sent to Superintendent Dr. Darrell Johnson, District 50 Chairwoman Dru James and the entire District 50 school board.
“There is a lot of erroneous, exaggerated and false information floating around about this bond issue,” said board member Lary Davis, who declined to elaborate during a phone interview.
Davis consistently has been the lone dissenter in votes concerning the bond installment plan.
District 50 Vice Chairwoman Debrah Miller said Saturday that she was not aware of the latest FOIA request, though she said she was sure district officials would “do their best to respond to that, too. There is certainly nothing to hide.”
She said Darrell Johnson responded in a timely manner to the first FOIA request.
After receiving it, Johnson wrote in an editorial, which was published Friday in The Index-Journal, that the bond installment proposal “in no way involves illegality or impropriety.” Johnson also wrote that, while regularly scheduled school board meetings answer “much of Mr. Compton’s FOIA request,” the district would “comply with those items remaining on the FOIA request in full compliance with South Carolina law.”
Miller said she was somewhat surprised by the recent questions and concerns surrounding the bond installment proposal, but she said she understood the public would have some questions about the plan.
“I’m a little surprised because we have talked about it (the bond installment proposal) at length. Now that we are getting to the end is when all this comes out,” she said. “I’m surprised that not as much concern was made plain to use in the very beginning ... We’ve answered a lot (of the public’s) questions. We’ve not hidden or tried to hide anything.”
District 50 offices were closed Friday by the time The Index-Journal received Compton’s faxes. An attempt to contact Assistant Superintendent Gary Johnson’s via his cell phone was unsuccessful.

Senior staff writer Megan Varner contributed to this article.

Sheriff’s office arrests 11 in drug bust

October 29, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

The Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office arrested 11 area residents in connection with an anti-drug operation that began Thursday and ended Friday.
The operation, which included more than 20 deputies, was designed to suppress open-air drug markets and address community complaints stemming from drug and alcohol nuisance areas, sheriff’s office officials said.
“I asked our vice unit to analyze the complaints they had received,” said Greenwood County Sheriff Dan Wideman, “and we directed our operation at those areas where residents had complained of open-air drug activity.”
Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said most complaints that deal with vice activities — such as drug and alcohol use — are given to the Vice, Illegal Drugs and Organized Crime Unit for investigation.
“That unit tracks it, and we did an analysis of the information,” Frederick said.
Authorities concentrated on the top five to seven areas where the complaints were concentrated, Frederick said, adding the complaints were mostly “low-grade nuisance” calls.
“We picked the areas where we thought we could have an impact, and we went in to see what we could do,” Frederick said.
Wideman described the operation as “multi-disciplinary” in that it involved uniformed deputies performing traffic operations and directed patrol, and vice agents and investigators conducting low-level investigations. Undercover operations also were used.
Authorities investigated neighborhoods, street corners, residences and nightclubs.
During one of the covert operations on Greene Street, a man attempted to rob undercover deputies at gunpoint and he was arrested by additional deputies concealed nearby. He has been charged with attempted robbery in addition to drug counts. No shots were fired in the incident and no one was harmed.
Frederick said the Greene Street arrest highlights the danger that arises with drug activity. While deputies are trained to mitigate those types of situations, residents are at greater risk of harm, he added.
“Drug dealers are dangerous people,” Frederick said. “If it is that dangerous for us to go in there, imagine what it is like to live on that corner.
“The fact that this guy stuck a gun in a deputy’s face should tell you what the residents in these neighborhoods are up against. That’s why we were there,” Frederick said.
Deputies patrolled areas ranging from Ware Shoals to South Greenwood and made charges ranging from low-grade traffic offenses to drug distribution and armed robbery. Deputies performed foot patrols in designated areas, walked through bars performing ID checks for underage drinking and public drunkenness and conducted undercover drug transactions on streets.
Several arrests were made on Grier and Greene streets in Greenwood and two people were arrested at local bars.
During the arrests, deputies seized several grams of marijuana, small amounts of cash and a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass used during one of the drug transactions.
Frederick said authorities weren’t concerned with numbers of arrests during the operation, but rather about the impact made on the community by having deputies on patrol and in neighborhoods.
“A lot of what we did was standing around with 10 to 15 deputies in neighborhoods,” Frederick said, adding the technique is called market displacement. “We were displacing that drug market. Even if just for one night, we took that market away from drug dealers. They need that physical market to deliver (their drugs), and when you’ve got 10 deputies standing on a corner, they don’t have that market.”
Wideman said separating drug dealers from their assets is an important tool in the anti-drug campaign.
The operation coincided with Red Ribbon Week, a nationwide anti-drug awareness campaign, though Frederick said the analysis of problem areas took about two to three weeks to complete.
“It (the operation) was mainly just to displace the market and to let the people in these neighborhoods know that we are here and we are going to try to do something about the problem,” Frederick said.
Arrested during the operation:
* Latisha Brooks, 17, of 302 Old Ninety Six Highway, Greenwood: Possession of marijuana.
* Corey Butler, 36, of 1413 Cooper St., Greenwood: Disorderly conduct.
* Amanda Culbertson, 26, of 229B Cambridge Ave., Greenwood: DUS (after admitting to entering the operational area to purchase illegal drugs).
* Robert Foster, 19, of 209 Brooks Stewart Drive, Greenwood: Distribution of marijuana, possession of marijuana near a school or park with intent to distribute.
* Christopher Hodges, 21, 525 Cothran Ave., Greenwood: Disorderly conduct.
* Will Hudgens, 29, of 36 Sparks Ave., Ware Shoals: DUS, open container alcohol.
* Rotavious King, 18, of 695 McLees Ave., Greenwood: Possession of marijuana.
* Ronald Moore, 38, of 623 Grier St., Greenwood: Possession of marijuana, violation of fraudulent check law.
* Sherry Ross, 23, of 633 Grier St., Greenwood: Possession of marijuana.
* Kelsey Saxon, 25, of 114 Allison Dr., Greenwood: Distribution of marijuana, possession of marijuana near a school or park with intent to distribute.
* Germaine Williams, 33, of 503 Taggart St., Greenwood: Attempted armed robbery, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, pointing and presenting a firearm during commission of a violent felony.

Information from a Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office press release was used in this article.

State band champions come marching into Ninety Six

‘Magic’ show helps Wildcats win big

October 29, 2006

By R. SHAWN LEWIS
Index-Journal managing editor

NINETY SIX — The town may be called Ninety Six, but its marching band will be called No. 1 for the next year.
The Ninety Six High School band won the 2006 Class 1A state championship Saturday in Clinton — and the Wildcats did it in style, claiming every award given at the competition, said Alexis Simonetta, student teacher.
The 70-member band, which captured the upper-state championship last weekend, received a 90.45 score from the judges at Clinton High School to best a 12-band field, Simonetta said.
The state finals featured the top six upper-state bands and the top six lower-state bands.
Ninety Six used its four-selection “Mangione Magic” show to claim Best Music, Best Visual and Overall Effect trophies in addition to the top prize.
“This is big for us,” said band director David Vickory, who was surrounded by ecstatic students and parents upon the band’s triumphant return to the Ninety Six town square Saturday evening.
The band, escorted by local law enforcement and emergency personnel, received a hero’s welcome home after snaring its first state crown since 1973. And then the Wildcats jammed and flashed their shiny gold medals and waved their bright blue ribbons.
“The community support really means a lot of the students and to me,” Vickory said. ‘I could not be more happier for these kids.”
The Wildcat Band was the last to perform Saturday, and the wait to go on and the wait to hear the results were all too long for drum major Christanthia Sheppard.
“It took so long for him to say it,” Sheppard said of the public address announcer. “I was agitated. I was ready for him to say it so I could go up there and get the trophy.
“(The band) did it today. It was full of energy. Everybody was watching me. Everybody was rolling their heels. Everybody brought their A game — even the kids who messed up in band camp.”
Vickory wasn’t sure Ninety Six’s name would be called at the end.
“It’s a matter of how the judges perceived our performance,” he said. “It’s nerve-wracking. The closer we got to it ... my heart was just beating.”
Vickory was assisted by Joey Bagwell, Darrell Jules (percussion) and Brittany Corbert (colorguard).
Lewisville finished second, and Blacksburg was third.

Robert Kirby

ABBEVILLE — Robert Charles Kirby, 49, of 104 Keowee Rd., died Friday, October 27, 2006 at his residence. He was born in Bervely, England to Patricia Thompson and the late George Robert Kirby.
Mr. Kirby was of the Baptist faith and worked for 22 years with Westinghouse Electric Company.
He is survived by his mother, Patricia Thompson of Travelers Rest, SC, a brother, Michael Kirby of Duncan, SC, three sisters, Elaine Kirby of Lyman, SC, Debra Woollard of Greer, SC, and Suzanne Benton of Greer, SC, a niece, Sarah Kirby of Lyman, SC, a nephew, Brandon Benton of Greer, SC, two aunts, Nancy Burton of Iva, SC, and Shiela Simpson of Wales. Mr. Kirby also leaves behind his favorite pet Napoleon.
Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, October 30, 2006 in the First Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 9511 Hwy 28 Iva, SC, conducted by the Rev. Bobby Jones. The family will receive friends following the services.
The families are at their respective homes.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Kirby may be sent to the American Cancer Society 231 Hampton Ave. Suite 3 Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home, of Abbeville is assisting the Kirby family.

Mary Michael

DUE WEST — Mary Thelma Williamson Michael, 82, widow of Thomas E. Michael, died October 27, 2006 at the Due West Nursing Center.
Born in Abbeville County, November 21, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Alonzo and Ella McClellan Williamson. She was a graduate of Donalds High School and retired from ITT Raynior, Inc. in Fernandina Beach, FL. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenwood.
Mrs. Michael had made her home back in South Carolina since May 1992.
Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. D.C. (Sybil) Jones of Greenwood and Mrs. Thomas (Lucile) Hicks of Wake Forest, NC; a number of nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at the Oakbrook Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum with Rev. Dr. John Setzler officiating.
The families are at their respective homes and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 5 to 6 Sunday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to the Greenwood Humane Society, PO Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Michael family.

Stedman William Price Jr. (Ted)

Mr. Price, 69, of Monroe, N.C., died at his home on October 27, 2006.
A 1955 graduate of Tri-City High School, Eden, N.C., he volunteered his services as a fireman, police officer, and EMT for over 20 years. He was fireman of the year at Westview fire department, Fair Forest, S.C., in 1973. He proudly served in the US Navy and received an honorable discharge. He was retired from Stoch Container Division Plant in Winston-Salem, N.C. and a captain of security for security forces in Greenwood and Charlotte, N.C.
Survivors include his devoted wife of 28 years, Gerry Henderson Price; children, Stedman William Price III, Angela Price Bragg, John Wesley Price, of Spartanburg S.C., Stedman Rhee Price of East Bend, N.C., Tonia Celeste Price of Spartanburg, S.C. and Shawn William Price of Hickory Tavern S.C.; 10 grandchildren, a great-granddaughter; two sisters; a brother.
Services are 4 p.m. Monday at Cannons Funeral Home Chapel, Fountain Inn, S.C., conducted by Rev. Marc Williamson.
Burial is in Cannon Memorial Park with full military honors by the US Navy Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends at Cannons Funeral Home Sunday evening, 6-8 p.m. and Monday afternoon, 3-4 p.m.
Cannon Funeral Home of Fountain Inn is in charge of arrangements.

Tommie Lou Richard

Tommie Lou Richard, of 706 Dallas Court, died Friday, October 27, 2006, at her home.
The family is at the home of a niece, Elizabeth Aye, 102 Bell Place.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Cecil Sherrer

WARE SHOALS — William Cecil Sherrer, 86, of 11 N. Greenwood Ave., widower of Inez Lunsford Sherrer, died Saturday, October 28, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Tyrone, Ga., he was the son of the late Garnett Franklin and Frances Combs Sherrer. He was a member of The First Baptist Church and had been employed by Riegel Textile Corp. and Greenwood Mills.
Survivors include two sons, Billy Sherrer and Jim Sherrer both of Greenwood; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services areTuesday, 11 a.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Leon Jones officiating.
Active pallbearers are Tommy Davis, Earl Weathers, Todd Sherrer, Wade Sherrer, John Simpson, and Harold Kay.
The family is at their respective homes and will receive friends after services at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Tom Stathakis

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michael Tom Stathakis, 84, husband of Diana Athanason Stathakis, died October 27, 2006.
Born in Honea Path, SC on December 18, 1921, he was a son of the late Thomas and Pansy Stathakis, who were from Arahova, Sparta Greece.
Mike served in the US Army during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the European Theatre of Operations, landing on Normandy Beach on D Day with 52 other soldiers in his platoon. He received six battle stars and five unit commendations.
In his later years, he was known as Papa Stax by many of his dear friends that he made at Brighton Gardens. He never forgot a face and never ever forgot a name because he cared about each person he talked with. His life was led with a simple philosophy that he instructed his family to follow, “Always show love to someone and help those who need it most.”
Mike was a loving husband, a caring father and a proud grandfather. A large loving family has been left behind due to the kindness and love from Papa Stax. He was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his sons, George Stathakis and his wife, Paula, along with their sons, Michael and Chris, and Frank Stathakis and his wife, Sheila, along with their sons, Nicholas and Michael.
Services will be Monday, October 30th, 2006 at 11:00 a. m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, with Father Tom Pistolis officiating. Entombment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends at The Mackey Mortuary Sunday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. with the Trisagion service at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Mike’s name to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 406 North Academy Street, Greenville, SC 29601.
The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.mackeymortuary.com.

Margaret Hutto West

WEST COLUMBIA — Margaret West, 82, widow of the late Morgan Preston West, died October 27, 2006.
Born in Aiken County, she was the daughter of the late Martin and Maggie Williams Hutto. She was an area resident since 1942. She was a member of Brookland United Methodist Church where she was a loyal and devoted member of Loyal Workers Sunday school class and the Young at Heart Group.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Eddie Smith of West Columbia; sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. Mayhew P. West Sr. and Marianne West of Saluda, Michael K. and Deb West of Dothan, Ala.; sisters, Jamie Christmas of Columbia, Eleanor Slater of Spring Lake, Mich.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. West was preceded in death by two brothers, Monroe and Patrick Hutto.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 at Brookland United Methodist Church with the Revs. Robert Cannon and Carol Cannon officiating. Interment will follow at Southland Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 Sunday evening at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Young at Heart Group, c/o Brookland UMC, 541 Meeting Street, West Columbia, S.C. 29169; Lottie Moon Mission Fund (IMB), PO Box 6767, Richmond, Va. 23230; Palmetto Hospice, PO Box 7275, Columbia, S.C. 29202.

Louise Wightman

Louise Teasley Wightman, 86, resident of 1005 Pine Forest Drive, wife of Julian H. Wightman, died October 27, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Elbert County, Ga., June 30, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Quillie O. and Clara Lunsford Teasley. She was a graduate of T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson and was formerly employed by Nantex Manufacturing Co.
A member of Rehoboth United Methodist Church, she was also a member of the Mary Witt Sunday School Class.
Surviving in addition to her husband of 65 years are five grandchildren, Ronald Shuford, Tracy Bellue, Ashley Hayes, Allison Moon and Hunter Hughey; two sisters, Frances Chastain and Nancy Lewis, both of Anderson; nine great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Wightman was predeceased by her daughter, Charlotte Wightman Hughey.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gale Summey and Rev. Fred Buchanan officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Russell Myrick, Adam Myrick, Frank Wightman, Tim Powell, Henry Hall, Ray Sivell, Loy Sartin and Jimmy Corley.
The family is at the home and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 Sunday evening.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Rehoboth United Methodist Church, 1808 Callison Hwy. Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Wightman family.

Louise Williams

ABBEVILLE — Mrs. Louise Williams, 85, of 104 Wingfield St., widow of Eddie “E S” Williams Sr., died October 27, 2006 at Abbeville Area Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville County, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Bridie Hunter Paul. She was a member of Flat Rock A.M.E. Church where she served on the Missionary board and Board of Stewardess.
Survivors include a daughter, Louise W. Aikens of Abbeville; sons, Eddie S. Williams Jr. of Cleveland and Harry Williams of Abbeville; eleven brothers, Samuel and Alex Paul of Baltimore, Johnny R. Paul of Cleveland, James, Ben, Louis and William Paul, all of Charlotte, N.C., Curtis, Ernest and Charles, all of Anderson, and Eddie Hamilton of Atlanta; eight sisters, Annie Phillips, Bridie Clinkscales and Lillian Paul, all of Abbeville, Pearl Morales of Cleveland, Eva Keese, Ruth McMullen and Doris Ware of Anderson, and Eula Bowen of Columbus Ga.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a goddaughter, Myra Tate of Antreville.
Services are Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 at 12 noon at Flat Rock A.M.E. Church with Rev. Wayman Coleman III officiating.
Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Garden.
The family will receive friends Sunday evening, 6-7 p.m. at Brown and Walker Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.

One-of-a-kind team remembered

Abbeville 1996 state championship squad honored on 10-year anniversary

October 29, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Some teams are just one of a kind.
The 1927 New York Yankees. The 1986 New York Mets. The 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball “Dream Team.”
All of these teams had talent, desire and a cohesiveness that made them special in the tapestry of athletics.
In terms of Lakelands-area teams, the 1996 Abbeville High School football team was woven from that same cloth.
The squad, which went 15-0 in 1996 while rumbling to a Class AA state championship, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its title Friday night before Abbeville’s regular-season finale against West-Oak.
“We’re proud to be able to recognize that group,” said Abbeville coach Jamie Nickles, who was an assistant for the ’96 Panthers. “I’m fond of all of those guys. They are a great group. They played the game so unselfishly. They were Abbeville football.”
That squad was coached by the late Dennis Botts, a skipper who became a local legend in Abbeville County before his death in 2003. In 14 seasons with the Panthers, Botts went 135-49, with two state championships (1991 and 1996) and four upper state championships.
The 1996 squad, however, was the crown jewel of the coach’s career.
The undefeated unit was dominant on both sides of the ball.
It scored 630 points on the season (an average of 42 per game) and gave up only 113 (less than eight per game).
The Panthers had six shutouts, three coming in the playoffs. Notable victories came in a 30-0 rout of AAAA opponent Greenwood, a 55-0 blistering of Ninety Six on the road and a 35-0 blanking of Allendale-Fairfax in the state championship game.

CASEY STONE, WHO was a senior defensive back and captain on the 1996 squad, remembered his time on the team fondly. “That was an unbelievable year,” Stone said.
“The biggest thing was how unselfish everyone was. If someone made a mistake, there was always someone there to pick you up.”
After leaving Abbeville, Stone, who works for CSX Railroad, went on to play four years of baseball at Clemson University and spent one season in the minor leagues.
Brad Jackson, a linebacker and tight end in 1996 who also played baseball at Lander University, agreed with Stone about the bond the team shared.
“We were tight,” Jackson said. “We’re still tight. We had 21 seniors, most all of them were leaders. We just wouldn’t accept losing a game that year.”
Though many of the former Panthers are quick to discuss team play, the squad wasn’t short on raw talent by any means.
Offensively, the Panthers’ backfield featured a stable of runners in Keele Goodwin, Antwan Burton, Antonio Crawford and Chris Lee. Goodwin and Crawford each rushed for more than 1,000 yards, with Lee and Burton close behind.
The offense was led by quarterback Rio Grant, a dangerous runner in his own right with a cannon-like right arm.
Goodwin, a team captain who played defensive end at The Citadel and now works for Palmetto Bank, said the team’s talent set it apart.
“Our team had so many talented guys,” Goodwin said. “Nobody had to play both ways. That’s unheard of in AA ball.”
While the offense was piling up points in 1996, the defense was busy being extremely stingy.
Lineman Diko Tinch, who started for Middle Tennessee State University, was the leader of the physical group. He was joined on the line by Corey Burton, who started for four years at Gardner-Webb. Burton and Tinch now work for CSX, as well.
Jackson and Raphael Sanders were All-Region III-AA at linebacker, while cousins Jermaine “P.I.” Paul and Leland Paul were standout safeties. Leland Paul followed up his career at Abbeville by playing at North Carolina Central.
Stone and Bryan Sanders were the team’s cornerbacks. Few opposing quarterbacks had the nerve to test either corner.
At the center of it all was Botts, a hard-nosed, old school coach. Ten years later, the players still speak of him with respect.
“Coach Botts ... he was tough on us,” Goodwin said. “The first three years our class was there, he was really tough. He wasn’t as tough on us our senior year. I think it’s because he knew he had leaders on the team, and one of them was his son.”
The son Goodwin referred to is Wayne Botts. Wayne was a starting offensive lineman and captain on the 1996 team. He graduated from Lander and is now the offensive coordinator at McCormick High School. He was unable to make it to Friday’s event because of his coaching duties with the Chiefs, who played Calhoun Falls.
“That was a season to remember,” Wayne Botts said. “State champions and 15-0. What made it special for me was playing for my dad. I spent so many hours with dad, watching film, talking football. I’m so glad we were able to win a championship together.”
Wayne Botts said he enjoyed playing on the line, which also included seniors Adam Hedden and Jeremy Brown.
“Well, Adam was the smartest guy on the team, let’s get that out of the way,” Botts said of Hedden, who finished Clemson with a degree in engineering. “He knew that offense inside and out.”

ONLY ONE OPPONENT played Abbeville closely in 1996 — then-Region III-AA foe Chapin.
Led by quarterback Dewayne Wise, who plays for the Cincinnati Reds, the Eagles put a scare in the Panthers before falling, 41-29.
“Yeah, Chapin played us tough,” Stone said. “The offense picked the defense up that night. Keele Goodwin had a huge night running the football.”
The Panthers’ two state titles in the 1990s helped galvanize Abbeville the way great teams often bring towns together for a common cause. The feat, however, has left a one question open for debate: Which was the better Abbeville team — 1991 or 1996?
While the 1996 squad displayed a dominance nearly unprecedented in Lakelands area football, the 1991 team wasn’t slack by any means. Compiling a 14-1 overall record, the 1991 Panthers were led by Leomont Evans, who starred with the Washington Redskins of the NFL after an All-ACC career at Clemson.
Abbeville athletic director Phillip Boyles, who was an assistant coach for both teams, was political in his answer.
“You won’t get me to say which was the better team,” Boyles said, coyly. “They were both great teams, I will say that.” Goodwin wasn’t as delicate in his answer.
“1996 was the better team, no question,” Goodwin said. “We were twice as good as the 1991 team. You can quote me on that. No, we were 10 times better.”
Goodwin admitted his cavalier attitude on the subject comes from the fact that he has spent the last 10 years having this debate with his brother, Chuck, who played for the ’91 Panthers.
In fact, all of the former Panthers interviewed for this story said the 1996 team was the better Abbeville state champion from the 1990s. However, Botts said he has the definitive answer.
“I have a scrapbook my mom made me, it has a ton of newspaper clippings,” Botts said. “In one of them, from the Anderson Independent(-Mail), my dad is quoted saying the 1996 team was the best team he ever coached. I’ve got it right there in black and white if anyone wants to see it.
“To me, that’s the final answer to that debate.”

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

Eagles downgrade Hurricanes

October 29, 2006

By R. SHAWN LEWIS
Index-Journal managing editor

Greenwood receiver Josh Norman, center, tries to break through a tackle from Wren’s Nate Holmes, 3, and Blake Barrett, 4, during Saturday’s game in Piedmont. The Eagles won 42-0.

PIEDMONT — A sea of turnovers, wind-aided punts and howling defenders spelled the perfect storm for the Greenwood Eagles Saturday as they calmed the Wren Hurricanes, 42-0.
The Region I-AAAA tilt was moved to 1 p.m. Saturday following Friday’s torrential downpour in the Upstate.
It was a good move, Greenwood coach Shell Dula said, soaking in a picture-perfect Carolina fall day.
“I’d play every Saturday if the weather was like this,” Dula said.
His Eagles took a little time to get adjusted to the Saturday start, but once they got rolling, they rolled all over the Hurricanes — albeit in small patches.
Greenwood (8-2, 3-1) only tallied 181 total yards because it played on the short field all afternoon, thanks to Wren turnovers and booming punts by Sam Chappell. The backup quarterback and receiver averaged 50 yards on three boots.
The Eagles’ longest scoring drive was a two-play effort that started on the Hurricanes’ 38 — and one of those plays was a five-yard offside penalty against Wren (3-9, 0-4).
Greenwood’s first score came after Wren quarterback Cody Gray fumbled at his 10-yard line and the Eagles recovered at the 5. The Hurricanes held tight for three plays, but D.J. Swearinger dove in from the 1. The point-after made the score 7-0 with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Wren took possession, but was forced to punt after seven plays.
The Eagles also punted on their next drive, but the Hurricanes muffed Chappell’s kick at their own 5. The fumble was recovered by Jeff Hughes.
Greenwood needed just one play to take advantage of the miscue: a 5-yard run by Marcus Carroll. The point-after was good, making the score 14-0 with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter.
The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving Wren the ball on its 35. Gray dropped back to pass on first down and threw a strike to Greenwood’s Josh Norman, who took it to the house for a Pick 6. The PAT made the score 21-0 with one-tenth of a second left in the first quarter.
“It was just the quarterback to beat,” Norman said, “and he wasn’t going to get me. That would’ve been shameful. I had a blocker and I just followed him.”
Greenwood held Wren to a three-and-out on the following drive, but Hurricanes’ punter D.J. Brown had trouble with the snap, tried to run and was stopped short of the first down at his own 27.
Six plays later, Eagles quarterback Jay Spearman found Chappell in the end zone for a 6-yard scoring strike. The extra point made the score 28-0 at the 7:49 mark in the second quarter.
Hughes picked off Gray on the next drive to give Greenwood the ball back at the Wren 21. From there, Spearman wasted no time hooking up with Norman for a 21-yard touchdown catch and run. The PAT pushed the margin to 35-0 with 6:08 left in the second quarter.
The Eagles’ final score was the result of its longest drive — a 33-yard pass from Spearman to Phillip Norman. The point-after created the 42-0 final score with 3:57 remaining in the second quarter.
Greenwood had a 67-yard touchdown run by Carroll called back on a holding penalty just before the intermission.
“I thought our kids played hard,” Dula said. “They did what they had to do. They jumped on them early.”
The coach said the shutout will help Greenwood if the Eagles fall into a tiebreaker situation for playoff seeding. The team with the fewest points allowed will get the nod in that case.
“Our punting was excellent today,” he said. “Our coverage got us points today, and the defense did a great job. The kicking game set up opportunities for us, and the offense took advantage of those opportunities.”
Carroll (nine carries for 51 yards) was the leading rusher for Greenwood, which faces conference foe Laurens next Friday in its regular-season finale. Spearman logged 77 yards on 5-of-10 passing.
The Eagles played their reserves for the bulk of the second half, and officials kept the clock running.
Mikey D’Ornellas was the lone bright spot for the Hurricanes, gaining 103 yards on 29 carries. Wren was held to 117 total yards.

When the system speaks ‘politicians’ should listen

October 29, 2006

What happens when politicians get old? In South Carolina, it seems, they forget that compromise is the art of politics and that politics is all about issues.
It’s natural, of course, that some issues sometimes get petty, but, by and large, it’s the important ones that are the underpinnings of progress. They are the engines that make the economy run. As long as politicians remember that, especially the elected ones that make the laws, the compromises keep coming and so does progress.
Once in a while, though, politicians stay in office so long they forget about issues. They let personal animosities get in the way of good government. It’s not hard to see it when it happens.

LOOK IN THE STATE Legislature, in both the House of Representatives and Senate. Are there some members who have let personal political grudges get in the way of the good judgment and respect that once made them the knowledgeable and masterful professionals their peers sought out for advice?
The answer to that is, of course, you bet!
It happens. It always has, and it’s no different today. It’s simply part of how the system works. It’s a way the system has of telling someone, no matter how long or how valuable his or her service has been, it’s time to go.
Trouble is, not many people in that position listen when the system speaks, and therein lies the rub.