Family of 6 escapes fire

Parents say stereo ignited blaze in child’s bedroom

January 11, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

When Corey and Angie McDonald and their four sons went to bed Tuesday night, everything was normal. When they were abruptly awakened Wednesday morning, they quickly discovered life at their home off Highway 378 in Greenwood was in jeopardy.
The McDonalds’ home was ravaged by fire. A stereo in one of the children’s rooms apparently ignited a blaze that spread through the house, damaging nearly every area.
All six members of the family — plus their three pet cats— made it out safely.
Angie McDonald said one of her boys rushed into her and Corey’s room early Wednesday, telling his parents there was a fire in his room.
Angie said they went and looked at the fire, and thought it was small enough to put out themselves.
After getting the children out of the house, Angie said she and Corey went back inside and began trying to put out the fire. Corey filled up a trash can with water and tossed it on the flames, while Angie attempted to smother it with a shirt.
“It wasn’t slowing down any,” she said. “It was like we weren’t even doing anything to it. Soon, we weren’t able to breathe.”
The blaze began to spread, and the couple decided they had to get out. They called 911, and several fire departments, including the Highway 34 and Northwest volunteer departments, responded within minutes.
“They got here really quickly,” Angie said. “Some of the volunteer firefighters got here first; I think they live in the area.”
The firefighters worked diligently trying to contain the blaze, which was particularly tough to fight once it reached the area between the ceiling and the roof.
Red Cross operations manager Barbara Turnburke also arrived on the scene shortly after the firefighters. Turnburke said it is customary for the Red Cross to respond quickly when a large house fire occurs in the community.
“One of the first things we can do for victims in a situation like this is make sure they have clothes and food,” Turnburke said. “This time of year, we also provide an allowance for seasonal clothing, such as a coat, because it is so cold.”
Turnburke added it is customary for the Red Cross to offer victims a hotel room for five nights while they get their affairs in order. However, the McDonalds will be staying with John McCravy, whom Angie works with, for a short time until they decide what to do.
“Right now, we really don’t know what we’re going to do,” Angie said. “But the most important thing to us was that our boys got out safely and we were all unharmed.”
McCravy and Angie McDonald said a fund is being set up for the family by Countybank in Greenwood.

Hazel Bearden

CROSS HILL — Hazel Thomas Bearden, 84, of 749 McCrary Road, widow of John W. Bearden, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at Hospice House.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home and Crematory, Greenwood.

Jennie Cheatham

SPARTANBURG — Mrs. Jennie Plair Cheatham, 69, of Blackstock Road, entered into rest Jan. 8, 2007 at her residence.
Mrs. Cheatham, a native of Edgefield County, was a member of Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield.
Survivors include her husband, A.K. Cheatham; one daughter, Bonita (James) Wise, Spartanburg; three sons, Wesley Davis and Ricky Davis, Edgefield and Christopher Cheatham, Greenwood; eleven sisters, Emma Walker, Ida Cheatham, Claudine Rhynes, Hattie Plair, Jean Moore, Joan Bowman, Edith East, Barbara Bussey, Sharon Hammond, Sandra Best and Modena Stevens; four brothers, Charlie Plair, Johnnie Plair, Theodore Plair and Michael Adams; ten grandchildren; a host of other relatives and friends.
Friends may call at 203 Courtney Road, Trenton, S.C.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2007 at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, with the Rev. Craig Myers officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, 250 Coral Street, Edgefield, S.C.

Ethel Coleman

Ethel Willis Coleman, resident of 117 Pecan Drive, widow of James Otto Coleman, died Jan. 10, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Modoc, SC, she was a daughter of the late Willie Chester and Sallie Brooks Willis. She was a graduate of Washington School in Modoc and was retired from Greenwood Mills, Plant No. 5.
A member of Lowell Street United Methodist Church, she was also a member of the Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club.
Surviving are a daughter, Inez C. Hellams of Greenwood; a sister, Mamie W. McDaniel of Modoc; two grandchildren, Kim B. Gary of Callison and Keith Coleman Brown and wife, Sandra of Newberry; four great-grandchildren, Lesley Westmoreland and husband, Dustin and Joseph Gary, all of Greenwood, Kody C. Brown and Michelle Brown, both of Newberry; a great-great-grandson, Logan Hayes Westmoreland.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Dick Waldrep officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Horace Willis, Virgil Livingston, Jimmy Gable, Vernon Clegg, Eddy Coleman, Ronnie Coleman, Hardy “Bo” Coursey and Glenn Bladon.
Honorary escort will be Ray Willis, Charles Gable, Richard Scott and Ernie Sumner.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Inez Hellams, 113 Brookside Drive and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 Thursday evening.
Memorials may be made to Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Coleman family.

Bud Franke

McCORMICK — Floyd James “Bud” Franke, 49, of White Oak Farms, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007.
He was born in Kentucky and was employed by White Oak Farms.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Old Rodgers Homeplace Family Cemetery in the Callison Community.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Doris Hughes

ABBEVILLE — Doris Kirby Hughes, 84, of 401 Magazine St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at Hospice Care of the Piedmont, Hospice House in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.

Philip Lake

Philip Lake, 74, of 107 Corrie Court, husband of Marcella Jerry Lake, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Fred Stevens

Fred Stevens, 95, of 141 South University St., husband of Emily Bouknight Stevens, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.

Greenwood outwrestles Ninety Six

January 11, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Four days after competing in the Greenwood Invitational Tournament at Greenwood High School, the Ninety Six Wildcats (10-2, 0-0) were back in town on Wednesday night to face the Greenwood Eagles (9-4, 1-0) in a wrestling match.
The last times the two teams faced off, the Wildcats won 43-27 on their home mat.
The Eagles took care of things on their home mat though, winning 39-36 in a battle of two of the Lakelands’ top teams.
The Eagles and coach Greg Brewer might have had a bit of added motivation after the Wildcats finished ahead of them with a fourth-place finish in the tournament.
“They have a great team. They don’t have many holes and they’re solid throughout the lineup,” Brewer said prior to the match. “There’s a little rivalry there. We want to represent ourselves well and wrestle to the best of our ability.”
The Wildcats and coach Brian Neal were looking to prove that their success against the Eagles wasn’t a fluke.
Things were going according to plan as the Wildcats led 18-9 following a pin by Bates Nunamaker over Daniel Ivey.
Nunamaker avoided trouble early on after spending much of the opening round on the brink of being pinned. He finally broke through late in the match for the pin.
The Eagles’ most impressive stretch of the night began with Andy Greer’s pin against Cody White in the 112-pound class. Not to be outdone, teammates Michael Hellman (119), Al Ward (125) and James Long (130) followed with pins over the Wildcats and gave Brewer’s squad a solid 39-24 lead.
The Wildcats picked up 12 points in the final two matches and just missed the season sweep over the Eagles.
“Our upper weights wrestled great,” said a hoarse Brewer following the match. “Chris Abeyta’s match, Nick Mountz’s match and Detravious Ross’ match were the difference tonight.”
The Eagles will need to maintain their conditioning as the match against the Wildcats was the second of a grueling, nine-match stretch over the next 15 days that continues with a home match at 7 tonight against Wren.
The Wildcats have a day to recuperate before returning to their home mat Friday. They face Whitmire at 7 p.m.

A conference of Passion with 20,000 college kids

January 11, 2007

“For 20,000 college kids to come together for any purpose is incredible.” That may not take into account athletic contests and entertainment concerts, but the statement makes a good point about the purpose in question.
That sentiment was expressed by Chris Nehmer, a 21-year old student at Wheaton College in Illinois. He drove for 12 hours on New Year’s Eve to be among some 20,000 students from around the world who gathered in Atlanta for what was designated the Passion Conference.
That annual four-day conference brings students together in a non-denominational setting to talk about Christianity and concerns of people around the world.

THE FOCUS, OF COURSE, IS positive, and in a world that sometimes appears to be going off the deep end in so many ways, this kind of dedication ought to be encouraging to a lot of people in South Carolina, whether they are Christian or otherwise.
These days it too often seems that Christianity is under attack. Furthermore, it seems there’s an accumulation of evidence to support those who see that happening.
Adding emphasis to the reason for the meeting, a volunteer says the conference provides a positive environment in which college students can explore their faith. “College ministry is a much needed thing,” she says. “Once you get out of high school, there are so many other worldly influences.”

THAT, TO BE SURE, HAS ALWAYS been the case. These days, though, with illicit sex, liquor, drugs and crime making a mockery of religion, morality, the law, and ‘entertainment,” any effort that is a positive approach to identifying and addressing problems that prey on present generations should be welcome to those who complain, rightfully, that so many negative influences will, unless checked now, have a frightful effect on future generations.
There may be some unseen drawbacks, but the good done by the mere gathering of college students from around the world in the name of Christian passion is a positive influence. Maybe such efforts will encourage others to multiply and spread good. There’s never been a time when it was needed more.