Area woman aims to help prevent premature births

October 30, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Each year in the United States, almost half a million babies — or about one in eight — are born prematurely, and their early arrivals can have dramatic physical, mental and financial impacts, according to the March of Dimes.
But through research and education, March of Dimes officials nationwide are making strides to bring those staggering numbers down, and Holly Gunderson, community director for the local chapter of the organization, said making the public aware of that research and support is one of her main goals.
“Our main thing is just to educate and help get the information across,” Gunderson said. “Our mission is to prevent infant mortality, prematurity and birth defects.”
Gunderson, an Abbeville resident, took over the position in September, and leads Greenwood, Abbeville, Saluda, Edgefield and McCormick counties, as well as the Batesburg-Leesville area. Since taking the office, Gunderson said she has been working with the community to build committees and begin preparations for Walk America, one of the largest fundraisers for March of Dimes.
The annual walks, which take place in cities and towns throughout the nation, are set to begin locally in April. The Greenwood-area walk is scheduled for April 28 at Lander University, Gunderson said.
Gunderson said she is working to find teams for the local Walk America events, adding that business, school and community groups can be teams for the walk.
“Anybody can be in a team,” she said. “There can even be family teams. That is something new that we are really trying to get into, especially the families that have been affected by prematurity, birth defects or infant mortality.”
The March of Dimes organization began in the 1930s, growing out of a National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis created by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, according to information from the organization. Its first focus was to find a cure for polio, from which Roosevelt suffered, but within 20 years, the March of Dime’s focus had expanded to birth defect prevention. In 2003, the focus changed to prematurity prevention to stem the nation’s growing premature birth rates.
“They (March of Dimes officials) realized that with birth defects and infant mortality, the common factor was prematurity,” Gunderson said.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and Gunderson said many people don’t fully understand the scope of the problem.
“Prematurity doesn’t just end in the hospital. It is something that can create life-long disabilities,” she said. “It is not a short-term problem.”
Along with physical and mental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, blindness and deafness, prematurity is the leading cause of infant death for babies under one year of age, Gunderson said.
In school, children who were born prematurely can be developmentally behind other children their age, which Gunderson said can affect school testing scores.
Prematurity can also have drastic financial effects on a family and businesses.
The organization reports that the direct health care costs to employers for premature babies during the first year of their lives average more than $41,000, compared to about $3,000 for full-term babies. Businesses also suffer loss of productivity from parents, who require more time out of the office for additional medical visits needed for babies born too early.
“Even if you have insurance, businesses absorb a lot of that cost,” Gunderson said.
South Carolina has one of the highest prematurity rates, and Gunderson said 155 babies are born prematurely in this state each week.
That is why organizations such as the March of Dimes are important to help fund ongoing research into the problem and search for ways to keep babies healthy.
“So many organizations have people who can be a representative and say, ‘This happened to me,’ but for premature babies, they don’t have a voice,” Gunderson said. “The March of Dimes can be their voice. We feel that every baby deserves nine months of pregnancy. You need that to get a healthy start.”
The March of Dimes can provide local organizations and agencies information on prematurity, Gunderson said, and help those organizations obtain grants that provide money for educational materials, such as videos and brochures, on the issue.
Though she has only been on the job for a few weeks, Gunderson said the position with the March of Dimes has given her a sense of fulfillment.
“With this job, I believe so much in the mission and what it is doing. I can see the benefits of it in Greenwood,” she said. “I’m looking forward to helping educate the community and just remind them that the March of Dimes is a resource they can look to for support.”

PBC champions

Cooke’s second-half goal lifts Lander to third tourney title

October 30, 2006

From staff reports

The top-seeded Lander University men’s soccer team won its third Peach Belt Conference tournament championship Sunday afternoon when the Bearcats defeated third-seeded USC Aiken, 1-0, at the Lander soccer field.
Lander junior forward Nick Cooke, the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, scored the game’s lone goal at 82:55 when he raced down the left side of the field and converted a pass from freshman forward Ivan Stoykov.
The Bearcats, the No. 15-ranked team in the country, improve to 16-3 overall, while the Pacers drop to 12-6-2.
“We feel very fortunate to win,” said Lander coach Van Taylor, who earlier this week earned his 300th career victory.
“We beat a very good Aiken team. (USC Aiken) is very athletic and they have some dangerous forwards.
“Even playing a man down, they played with a lot of character.”
USCA was forced to play one man down after Felix Ogbuke received a red-card ejection at 49:08.
Lander avenged two of this season’s three losses in this tournament.
The Bearcats lost to USC Upstate, 5-0, during the season, but downed the Spartans, 2-1 in double-overtime, in Friday’s semifinal game. Also during the regular season, USC Aiken defeated Lander, 2-1.
“This tournament gave us a great opportunity to avenge those losses,” Taylor said.
“I would rather have played the two conference teams who beat us in the regular season.
“We couldn’t have picked the seedings any better.”
In a defensive struggle, Lander out-shot the Pacers, 7-5, while USCA led in corner kicks, 5-3.
USCA goalkeeper Harold Tate had two saves, while Lander’s Garrett Daum recorded one.
Lander advanced to the championship game by defeating No. 8 Georgia Southwestern, 2-1, in the first round, followed by its victory over USC Upstate.
USCA advanced by beating North Georgia, 2-1, in two overtimes, in the first round, then downed Clayton State, 2-1, in the semifinals.
Bearcats freshman midfielder Jamie Ramm was named the tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Tyler Davis, Colin Kent and Garret Daum; USC Aiken’s Harold Tate, Tim Costanzo and Emmanuel Maduka; USC Upstate’s Saul Stoner and David Stovall; Clayton State’s Andre Rall and Hailab Habton; Georgia Southwestern’s Conrad Brown; UNC Pembroke’s Steve Locker, Francis Marion’s Matt Gourie and North Georgia’s Sheldon Best.
The NCAA tournament pairings will be announced Monday.

Opinion

Governor and challenger have one thing in common

October 30, 2006

There are not many things that South Carolina’s Republican Gov. Mark Sanford and his Democratic challenger State Sen. Tommy Moore have in common. That’s to be expected, naturally.
This time around, though, there is more of a difference than is generally presented to voters. It’s a distinct difference, too.
Sanford is more of a new breed, one who challenges the way things have always been done and says there’s a better way ..... and has worked to prove it.

MOORE ON THE OTHER hand, is a long-standing member of the Old Guard, one who has been part of the system that Sanford has challenged. He believes his way is better and questions Sanford’s record.
That, to be sure, is the name of the game in politics. However, the two men do have one thing in common, if what they said in a recent debate is indicative of what they believe. Both said there should be a review of the entire tax structure of South Carolina, with an eye toward improvement.
In that respect, both are heading in the right direction. For the rest? Voters have to decide if they like the way politics has always been played in the Palmetto State or if they want someone to rock the ship of state a little more.

Obituaries

McNeill Henderson

McCORMICK — Rufus McNeill Henderson, 85, of 509 Bradley Road, widower of Genevieve Flemming Henderson, died Sunday October 29, 2006, at McCormick Healthcare.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Lonny J. Jackson

Lonny June Jackson, 76 died Sunday morning October 29, 2006 at Hospice of Greenwood.
Mr. Jackson was born May 10, 1931 in Greenville, SC, a son of the late Herman and Nora Jackson. He was a 1958 Graduate of Wofford College and a veteran of the US Navy. He retired as Controller for Clarkson Brothers and also worked for Milliken, as Controller for Piedmont Motor Lines. He was a member of Saint Johns UMC where he served as treasurer for many years. He was a member and past president of Greer Rotary Club.
Survivors include a son Jeff Jackson and wife Paula of Spartanburg, a son David Jackson and wife Teresa of Greenwood; four granddaughters Kassie, Susanne, Taylor and Kelly Jackson; a brother Theron Jackson of Atlanta and sister-in-law Juanita, and a sister-in-law Bea Jackson of Fountain Inn. He was predeceased by three sisters, Reba, Catherine, Iris and two brothers Allen and William.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive, Greenville. Funeral service time will follow.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.

James W. Motes

ABBEVILLE — James W. Motes, 76, of 115 Court Square, entered into rest on Sunday, October 29, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services with full military honors will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006 at Calhoun Falls Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Latmer Cemetery, Calhoun Falls.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tommie Lue Richards

Tommie Lue Richards, 90, of 706 Dallas Court, widow of Willie Richards, died, October 27, 2006 at her home. Born in McCormick County, May 8, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Felix Yeldell and Frances Mims Yeldell. She was a member of Springfield Baptist Church and OES # 418.
Survivors include a grandson, Robert Lee Carter of Greenwood; two nieces, Elizabeth Aye of Greenwood and Leila Rucker of Richmond, Va.; a nephew, Eddie Yeldell.
Funeral services are Wednesday 2 p.m. at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, with Rev. Craig Miles officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews and flower bearers are nieces.
The family is at the home of a niece, Elizabeth Aye, 102 Bell Place.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Richards family.

Pat Underwood

HODGES — Aline Pat Ary Underwood, 66 of 1620 Ross Road, widow of James F. “Jim” Underwood, died Sunday, October 29, 2006 at her home.
Born in Mo., she was a daughter of the late Rufus and Mammie Blackwell Ary. She worked with Park Seed Company in the canteen, a member of the Hodges OES # 272 and was a member of Providence Baptist Church.
Mrs. Underwood was predeceased by a brother, Coy Ary.
Survivors include two daughters; Regina Lucille “Lucy” Kimbrel and her husband Billy Ray of Waterloo and Linda Annette “Anne” Lyerly and her husband Paul of Hodges; three sisters, Mary Sitzes of Sekston, Mo., Melinda Johnson of Scottsville, Ky., and Carllee Reed of Greenwood; four brothers, Vernon Ary of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Roy Ary of Minong, Wis., Ralph Ary and Lee Ary both of Saint James, Mo.; four grandchildren, Patrica Acheson, Krystal Kimbrel, Laura Lyerly, and Michelle Lyerly; a great-grandchild, DJ Acheson and a special nephew, Dale Reed and his family of Hodges.
Services are 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Lamar Babb and the Reverend Mike Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are David Lyerly, Robert Kimbrell, Fraizer Dominick, Mark Lyerly, Eric Nickles and Wayne Craine.
Honorary escort will be Hodges OES # 272.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 7-9 p.m.
OES rites are 9:00 pm Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com.