All quiet at Ninety Six High

School has classes as usual in wake of student’s threat

April 21, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — Students gathered quietly out front, grouping among their friends while discussing the day’s topics — just as they always do.
There were no nervous looks, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
All remained quiet early Friday at Ninety Six High School following threats of violence made earlier this week by a freshman student of Asian ancestry who had referenced the Virginia Tech slayings.
In fact, two law enforcement vehicles — parked noticeably in front of the school’s entrance — served as the only clue that anything at all might be different this Friday from any previous one.
The morning announcements went on as usual, complete with the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the Ninety Six Alma Mater (a Friday tradition). It was indeed business as usual — or as close as the school could possibly come to it after the student’s threats to “do a Virginia Tech” circulated among students and parents beginning on Wednesday.
No charges have been filed as a result of the threats, and the student was suspended from school for an undisclosed amount of time.
There was no report of mass absences Friday.
“We appreciate the students feeling comfortable to come (to school),” Ninety Six High Principal Joanne Campbell said. “They told a lot of people their concerns and we were able to act on them. We asked the Ninety Six Police Department to come, and they have worked cooperatively with the (Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office).
“We feel good about having both of them on campus with us (Friday), just as a precautionary measure.”
Campbell said students approached faculty and administration early Friday with some questions, but those were answered.
“There were some concerns,” Campbell said. “We put newspapers in the cafeteria every morning for the students to read. We put them out (Friday) just like we always do, so there were some questions and comments in reading the article, but I was glad to see them here today.
“I feel like they felt comfortable. It seems like we have a good attendance today.”
Ninety Six is hardly alone in dealing with threats of violence.
Schools across the country every week deal with varying scenarios, from threats of violence posted on the Internet’s social meeting place — MySpace.com — to threatening e-mails and messages scrawled on bathroom stall doors. Some schools have even been evacuated.
“It surprises you in that it happens to you, but it does not surprise us that it happens, knowing that it can happen anywhere,” Campbell said. “We are not isolated from anything happening here, as no other school is.
“As we know, problems can happen anywhere, at any time, but we feel that we have done all we can to ensure the safety of the students.”
Campbell did not reveal the length of the threat-maker’s suspension — or the possibility of an expulsion — as the situation remains under investigation. She did say, however, that the threatening statements made by the freshman student and the reported teasing of the freshman by other Ninety Six students will be handled as separate matters.
“Based upon information we had at the time, he was suspended,” Campbell added. “At this time, he is suspended. We’re still looking at the teasing as well, but the teasing does not excuse any type of threatening behavior. We will work with the teasing side, but we will address the threatening side.”
Ninety Six Superintendent Dan Powell said the school board will have a special meeting Tuesday to address the threats.
“We have good students here,” Powell added. “It’s unfortunate when you have something like this to happen.”

Cars collide at Greene-Milwee intersection

Three sent to hospital; man taken into custody

April 21, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A two-car wreck occurred Friday afternoon at the intersection of Greene Street and Milwee Avenue in Greenwood. The Greenwood Police Department, Greenwood Fire Department, Greenwood Sheriff’s Office and EMS responded.
The Buick on the right was driven by Greenwood’s Selena Elmore. According to Greenwood Police Capt. Michael Martin, Elmore and her two children were taken to Self Regional Medical Center.
Jose Villafuerte, 64, of Greenwood, was the driver of the overturned SUV on the left. He was taken into custody by police for not having a valid driver’s license.
Police suspect Villafuerte might have run the stop sign at the intersection. No further information was available as of press time.

Obituaries

Dorothy Davis

WARE SHOALS — Dorothy Williamson “Dot” Davis, 75, of 5096 Hwy. 252, widow of Walter L. “Dub” Davis, Jr. died April 19, 2007 at Hospice of the Upstate, Anderson, S.C. She was born in Abbeville County, a daughter of the late Marvin L. and Gladys Medlock Williamson. She worked for Riegel Textile for thirty-six years and retired from Ware Shoals One Stop.
She was a member of Donalds Baptist Church.
Surviving are one son, Ray Davis, Ware Shoals; one brother, W.C. “Bill” Williamson, Donalds; two grandchildren, Laura Davis, Ware Shoals and Travis Davis, Myrtle Beach; a number of nephews and nieces; and her pet cat, Annie.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Lamar and Jerry Williamson and a sister, Brenda Greene.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, 4 p.m. at Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Brandon Williamson, Douglas Williamson, Billy Vinson, Dan Campbell, Stanley Henderson and Tony Hall.
Honorary escort will be Mrs. Boyd Norris, Home Care, Staff of Hospice of the Upstate, Ms. Michelle McElrath, Mrs. Donna Charpia and Mrs. Connie Hill.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621 or to Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church, 11828 Indian Mound Road, Ware Shoals, S.C.
The family will be at the home of W.C. “Bill” Williamson, 160 Kirkpatrick Road, Donalds, SC, and will receive friends at Mt. Gallagher Baptist Church, 2:30-4 p.m.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mark Fleischman Jr.

CLINTON — Keith Marcus Fleischman, Jr., 63, of Whitten Center, Clinton, SC, a residential center for South Carolinians with disabilities and special needs, died Thursday, April 19, 2007, at Hospice House, Greenwood. He will be missed by loving staff, caretakers and friends at Whitten Center. Born in Clinton, he was the son of Elizabeth “Betty” Spratt Fleischman and the late Keith Marcus Fleischman.
Surviving is his devoted mother of Charleston and formerly of Ninety Six; his sisters, Beth Rice of Charleston, Ellen Nisbet of Chapel Hill, NC, and Margaret Heyward of Newport Coast, CA. He will be fondly remembered by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Whitten Center Parents’ Club, PO Box 239, Clinton, SC 29325.
Condolence letters may be sent to Betty Fleischman, c/o Beth Rice, 2140 Medway Road, Charleston, SC 29412 or by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Willie Mae Glover

Graveside services for Willie Mae Glover, of 745 Oak St., are 3 p.m. Monday, April 23, 2007, at The Evening Star Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. James E. Speed, Sr. The family is at the home of a daughter Willie Victoria Glover, 714 Oak St. Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Edna Heslin

ABBEVILLE — Edna Martin Heslin, 86, resident of 1067 Hwy. 72, widow of Thomas Joseph Heslin, died Thursday April 19, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC.
Born in Abbeville Co., SC, she was a daughter of the late John Allen and Lillie Cox Martin.
She was a homemaker and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was also very active at the Abbeville Opera House as a volunteer.
Survivors are: 1 son Thomas J. Heslin of Clinton Township, MI; 2 daughters, Noreen Klink of Algonquin, IL, and Cathy Strohm and her husband, Steve of Royal Oak, MI; 1 sister, Frances McNamara of Abbeville, SC; 6 grandchildren; and 3 great-granddaughters.
A Celebration of Life with Rites of Christian burial will be conducted Sunday, April 22, 2007, at 2 p.m. from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Father Allam Marreddy officiating. The burial will be at a later date at Roseland Cemetery in Berkley, MI.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon prior to services. The family is at the home, 1067 Hwy. 72 West, Abbeville, SC.
The family request that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the Heslin family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge of arrangements.

Neverdine Turman Holloway

MOUNT CARMEL — Neverdine Turman Holloway, 54, of 190 Cathy Heights, Mt. Carmel, SC, wife of Lonnie Freeman, died Thursday, April 19, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC.
She was the daughter of the late Isaac Turman, Sr. and Lucy Buggs Turman. She was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Turman and two brothers, John Robinson and Ralph Gibert.
She was retired from Mohawk Industries in Calhoun Falls, SC.
She attended Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Church in Mt. Carmel, SC.
She was a member of the Ladies Aide Society.
She is survived by her husband of Willington, SC; two sons, Randy Turman of the home and Lonnie Turman of Abbeville, SC; two daughters, Lucy Mae Turman and Meliva Turman of the home; two brothers, Tim Letman of Augusta, GA, and Isaac Turman, Jr. of Mt. Carmel, SC; three sisters, twin sister, Josephine Gibert of Starr, SC, Mary T. Jackson of Mt. Carmel, SC, and Betty Jean Turman of College Park, GA; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be Sunday, April 22, 2007, at Spring Grove Baptist Church in Mt. Carmel, SC, at 2 p.m., with Rev. Jennifer Brown presiding and Rev. Brenda Lomax officiating. Rev. Roy Andrews, Rev. Paul Saunders and Rev. Debra Cade are assisting.
The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial is in Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Church Cemetery.
Public viewing is on Saturday, April 21, 2007, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Online condolences can be made at awmort@wctel.net.
Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of services.

Rev. Harold R. Johnson

BELTON — Rev. Harold Roland Johnson, 82, of 1924 Amity Road, died Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at Hospice of the Upstate.
Rev. Johnson was born in Pickens County and was the son of the late Alexander Charles and Serrepter Griffin Johnson, and was also preceded in death by brother, Charles R. Johnson and sister, Edith M. Allen.
Rev. Johnson matriculated at SC State College and Gammon Theological Seminary Atlanta, GA. He pastored tirelessly in the United Methodist Church for 27 years, retiring in 1990.
He is survived by a devoted wife of 54 years, Fannie M. Johnson, son, Rev. Harold (Dawn) Johnson, and 3 grandchildren, all of Belton, SC.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 6-7 p.m. at D.B. Walker Funeral Services, Anderson, SC, and the funeral will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, Hartsville, SC.
The family is at the home.
Arrangements by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, and Young & Young Funeral Home, 711 S. 6th St., Hartsville, SC, 843-332-4188.

Nora Arnold Mabry

WINCHESTER, Tenn. — Nora Arnold Mabry, age 89, of Winchester, TN, passed away Thursday, April 19, 2007, at Southern Tennessee Medical Center. A native of Franklin County, she had made her home in Oak Ridge, TN, from 1943 to 1962. Between 1962 and 2002 she made her home in Greenwood, SC, returning to Franklin County in 2002 to be near family. She was an avid golfer, University of Tennessee fan and was the Executive Director of the South Carolina Ladies Golf Association. She was a member of the Winchester First United Methodist Church and had previously been a member of First United Methodist Church in Greenwood, SC. Mrs. Mabry is preceded in death by her husband, Howard P. Mabry and her first husband, Arlie Howell Moss; grandson, Howell Arnold Moss, Jr. She is survived by her sons, Howell Arnold Moss, Sr. of Greensboro, NC, and Jewett Cleveland (Kaye) Moss of Paintsville, KY; sisters, Alice Fraker of Winchester, TN, and Rena Warren of Kingston, TN; grandchildren, James Andrew Moss, Kathryn Leigh King, Jewett Kirby Moss and Matthew Bruce Moss; great-grandchildren, Katie King, Annie King, Allie King and Holly Haunhorst. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2007, from the North Chapel of the Watson-North Funeral Home, with Rev. J.D. Spencer, officiating. Interment will follow in Winchester City Cemetery with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until time of service. Online condolences may be sent to www.watsonnorth.com.

Eron Prince

WARE SHOALS — Eron Boland Prince, 88, formerly of 10 Lee St., widow of Albert Jerome Prince, died Thursday, April 19, 2007, at Laurens National Healthcare. She was born in Laurens County, a daughter of the late Landon Simms and Mary Elizabeth Cooper Boland. She was a member of Ware Shoals Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Surviving are a son, Michael J. Prince, Gray Court, a daughter, Jean P. Carlton, Anderson and a sister, Bertha Watts, Ware Shoals.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, 3 p.m. at Ware Shoals Pentecostal Holiness Church, with Rev. Mac Jones and Rev. Randy Fleming officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Mickey Boland, Ed Free, Cecil Boggs, Walter Madden, Robbin Vaughn, Mark Madden, Alton Boland and Ray Boland.
The families are at their respective homes and will receive friends at the church Sunday, 2-3 p.m. Parker-White Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Opinion

Second Amendment is put ‘under the gun’ yet again

April 21, 2007

“Ban guns!” That “demand” can be expected in the wake of every criminal act in the United States, be it a rash of killings on college or school campuses or in a bank robbery. It’s being heard now following a tragic and senseless occurrence at Virginia Tech.
The Founding Fathers, no doubt, included the Second Amendment in the Constitution based on immediate concerns. In a “living” document like the Constitution, though, interpretation can be and is a flexible characteristic.
Taking that into consideration, the Second Amendment, which gives law-abiding South Carolinians the right to keep and bear arms, speaks to efforts to arbitrarily compromise that safeguard for individuals.

THE AMENDMENT SIMPLY says: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
It says “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” It does not make that contingent upon being part of a militia. It does, though, lets them keep arms should they be needed for a militia. That, however, doesn’t stop gun-control supporters from repeatedly trying to overturn the Second Amendment.
The usual arguments could be made, pro and con, and they likely are familiar to most people. One, however, seems to be as definitive as any. It is based on history. At one time there was a ban on alcoholic beverages in this country. We know what happened all too well. A new amendment was added to the Constitution. That led to the Prohibition Era, which spawned a variety of gangsters and big-time bootlegging, complete with violence. That has been depicted in countless motion pictures.

THAT ERA PROVED THAT criminal minds will find a way to get around the law.
Eventually, the prohibition amendment was repealed.
As far as guns are concerned, the District of Columbia has had a gun ban for some time and there’s a lesson to be learned there. Crime statistics in the nation’s capital city have increased. That ought to tell us something. If we’ve learned anything from history, though, anti-Second Amendment activists are sure to continue pushing their agenda.
It’s amazing how prescient the Founding Fathers were. It’s even more amazing they were wise enough and able enough to craft a living document of freedom that speaks to constantly changing times.