Bike safety important

Study: Children get hurt riding tricycles as well as bicycles

January 8, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Lt. Brian Penn, of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, knows how dangerous toys with pedals can be for kids.
His 3-year-old daughter’s tricycle could topple her fairly easily.
“It doesn’t take much to tip one of those over,” Penn said.
He knows what a recent study says many parents don’t: Children younger than 6 can be injured on pedal-powered toys just as easily as older children on bigger bikes.
About 2,000 emergency room visits were made for injuries sustained while on tricycles, bicycles and other pedal-powered toys in Wisconsin between 2002 and 2004, according to a study shown in The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report” in December.
Most of the emergency room visits didn’t involve motor vehicles.
Penn said he never wore a helmet as a kid, and neither did most of today’s parents, who think the smaller bikes and trikes are less dangerous than bigger bicycles.
Out of the 44,000 people who die in car crashes every year on average, 1 in 54 of those are on bicycles.
A child falling from a tricycle and hitting his head on a curb can cause a subdural hematoma under the skin of the skull, which can cause unconsciousness, Penn said.
A moment’s inattention from a parent can cause serious injury to a child.
Helping keep children safe is as easy for parents as watching them while they ride, Penn said.
It helps to clear an area for them to ride in, free of sticks and stones that can cause them to lose balance and car bumpers that are right at the level of a toddler’s head.
Looking ahead to make sure a child’s path is clear also helps, Penn said.
Of course, helmets are recommended for any age and even elbow pads for kids who like to fly across the yard on their bikes.
A helmet should always fit the child that wears it, said Marc Latham, Safe Kids coordinator for Greenwood.
Safe Kids Worldwide is a network of organizations dedicated to preventing childhood injuries.
Latham said sometimes younger children can get into accidents because they’re still getting used to how their bodies work.
It’s not a question of if a child will fall off a bike, but when.
Having kids ride in the afternoon, wearing reflective clothing and making sure pedal-powered toys are working properly are some of the things parents can do to keep their children safe, Latham said.

Fifth-grader collects cans for charity

January 8, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

When Chase Forrester, 11, knocks on the doors of her neighbors on Jennings Avenue, they know what she wants: canned foods.
Chase has collected more than 550 cans for Greenwood charities such as the Greenwood Soup Kitchen since July, when she had an epiphany that started her on her charitable journey.
One day last summer, a man came to the door of Chase’s house and asked for money to buy food.
Chase knew she wanted to help the man and others like him who didn’t have enough to eat, so she came up with “Castle of Cans.”
“I just think being able to help people is one of the best things somebody can do,” she said.
Her 4-year-old brother Shep served as the inspiration for the name for the charity.
Shep was playing with some cans of food on the kitchen floor not long after the man came to the door, arranging them in the rough shape of a castle.
“Look, Chase,” Shep said. “A castle of cans.”
The name stuck.
The soup kitchen has been extremely appreciative of Chase’s donations.
“This is a very special little girl who has certainly been given a wonderful set of values by her parents,” said Phyllis Zuehlke, who serves as director of the soup kitchen on Fridays.
Not everyone has been thrilled to see Chase on their doorstep.
One man who lived in a big house didn’t give any cans and treated her badly.
Most people like to donate, though, Chase said.
Many of the neighbors on Jennings Avenue are supportive of Chase.
Faith Dorn has donated to Chase’s cause before.
She came by Dorn’s home the Saturday before Christmas and sang carols for donations.
Chase is a performer at heart, singing and dancing whenever she can.
“I just do what I love to do to raise money,” she said.
Chase said giving is its own reward, especially during the holiday season.
“I didn’t have to get a gift to be happy,” she said.
Dorn thinks it is wonderful for a child Chase’s age to want to help other people.
“I think it’s such a good example,” Dorn said.
Her parents, Stacey and Harrison Forrester, have helped Chase in her endeavors, along with her grandparents and aunts and uncles.
“She pushes me to get her out there and do it,” Stacey said.
Chase’s desire to help others comes for being a compassionate person.
“She’s always been very big-hearted,” her mother said.
Chase also does a lot outside of her charitable activities.
She’s an assistant teacher at the Greenwood Dance Center, but doing the “shag” is the dance she likes the most.
Chase does South Carolina’s state dance, the shag, every July at the Junior Shaggers on the Strand in North Myrtle Beach.
She’s also in the Gifted and Talented program at Lakeview Elementary School and helps host the morning television show for the school.
Stacey said reading the breakfast menu at Lakeview is just the first step for Chase in being on television when she grows up.
“She wants to be the next Katie Couric,” Stacey said.
But her big dream is to expand “Castle of Cans” across the country to give people who can’t afford food a chance.
Chase thinks she can balance her charity work with the demanding life of a media superstar.
She said people in the community can help so much just by doing the smallest things, like donating canned food.
Chase plans on continuing to build her castle of charity again in July.

Making his mark

Former EHS standout Woolridge taking game to next level

January 8, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

There are plenty of stories out there about great athletes who have dominated at every level of play.
For some of these athletes, the road was straight with 100 percent visibility while others might have had to go through a hail storm on what some would describe as a dark and winding path to reach their goals.
Former Emerald High School football player Joe Woolridge, who was a member of the Vikings’ 1998 Class AA state championship team and one of only two Vikings’ players, along with Quinton Irvin, to play in the Shrine Bowl, has traveled back and forth on these paths over the past few years while using his talents on the football field. Although he says that he still has a long way to go, he has taken the necessary steps to being a true representative of the Emerald city.
“I remember when I first came to Emerald I looked up to a lot of guys that were on the team in ’98,” Woolridge said.
“That championship carried on to a lot of stuff that I learned after they left. I was 235 pounds when I played nose guard in the Shrine Bowl, and it was a good experience and it still motivates me.”
Woolridge headed to Georgia Military College following high school in 2002 where he was a stalwart on the defensive line.
During his sophomore year as team captain, he was honored as a junior college All-American for his efforts on the field with the Bulldogs while also being named Defensive MVP.
Woolridge also dealt with the rigors of cadet life while at GMC but according to his mother, Jessie Simmons, of Greenwood, he wasn’t deterred.
“I was very pleased with him going to Georgia Military. Especially because they had the discipline and he liked that structure in his life,” Simmons said. “More than anything else they were willing to give him a chance. He has stuck to this vision that he has and he’s had tremendous faith in believing that he’s still going to get there.”
Woolridge said that being accountable at home and at GMC carried over to Western Kentucky University, which offered him a scholarship following the ’04 football season. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark as he had done many times before.
After earning the job as starting nose tackle during preseason workouts, Woolridge was named Gateway Conference Newcomer of the Year for his exploits on the field while also being named to the conference’s second team defensive squad.
In his first season, Woolridge finished with 22 solo tackles, 15 assists, 37 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
“It was a really good environment and it made me want to work hard while on the field,” Woolridge said. “I knew that I was going to start but they tried to play with my head a little bit. By the second week of camp I was in the starting line-up. I loved the environment and they took care of me.”
With everything working out for him, Woolridge made sure that he continued to take care of business on the field as well. In his final season with the Hilltoppers, he finished with 12 solo tackles, 28 assist, 40 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup as one of the team’s on-field leaders.
Following his final season, Woolridge had the opportunity to play shortly in the Arenafootball2 (AF2).
“One of my teammates told me about the Louisville Fire and mentioned that they were looking for defensive linemen since one of their guys got hurt,” Woolridge said. “They usually have tryouts where they cut players after a few days. It took me about a week or two to make the team. Arena football is a quick-paced game and there was a lot of trash talking and I loved it.”
Although he enjoyed his time, Woolridge considers the Arena League a business and admits that it can be very cut-throat at times.
“I think that it is really preparing me to get my mind right for how the business works,” Woolridge said. “There are not really any feelings involved. It comes down to what’s best for the team.”
He now hopes the lessons he has learned will allow him to continue playing a sport he has played since the age of 7.
“My plans are to work out for the next two months and then try out for a team before the season. I’m also just praying about it and having faith,” Woolridge said. “I just want to represent where I come from. Greenwood is on the rise and I want to put my name out there. I might have to struggle but I know I can work my way up.”

Opinion

Proposed law could help innocent, not criminals

January 8, 2007

A new law in South Carolina that sponsors say would help catch repeat criminals hasn’t even been approved and yet it’s already coming under criticism.
The proposed legislation would require that anyone arrested and taken to jail would have to allow law officers to take DNA samples by taking a swab from the arrested person’s mouth.
Sponsors also say the law would help establish the innocence of suspects.
From all appearances it’s a good proposal. There is enough experience with DNA evidence now to prove its reliability.
In many cases it has indeed established the innocence of persons erroneously convicted of crime and serving time.
Because of DNA evidence, they have been released and had their records cleared.
It’s hard to imagine how emotionally damaging a wrong conviction must be. Could anything really ease the pain and/or reputation damage, not only for the individuals but also for their loved ones?
State lawmakers should seriously consider approving this legislation, although it’s not without opposition. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), for instance, says the proposal is unconstitutional. How can that be? If fingerprinting and photography are not unconstitutional, why would taking DNA samples be? DNA, after all, is more accurate than fingerprints.

Obituaries

Lula Belcher

HODGES — Lula Mae Belcher, 75, of 213 Belcher Road, widow of Joseph N. Belcher, departed this life, Saturday, Jan. 6, at Self Regional Medical Center.
She was the daughter of the late Jessie and Willie Mae Cleveland Williams. She was preceded in death by a son, Joseph N. Belcher Jr.
She was a retiree of Greenwood Mills and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Coronaca where she served on the Usher Board, Gospel Chorus and the Missionary Society. She was a member of the Women’s Aid Society #98.
She is survived by a grandson, Joseph Martin Sr. of Pensacola, Fla.; a great-grandson, Joseph L. Martin;
great-granddaughters, Porshia and Tiffany Martin; a sister, Mamie L. (Dan) Robinson of Hodges; sisters-in-law, Lillie P. Williams of Springfield, Mass., and Margaret Belcher of Hodges; a host of nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. from Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Bernard White officiating. Burial will be in Evening Star Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be deacons and trustees of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m.
The family is at the home of her sister, Mamie Robinson, 5836 Hwy 25 N. Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Belcher family.
Online condolences may be sent to pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Charlie Goodwin

Charlie Henry Goodwin, 62, of 110 Gambrell, husband of Mattie Michelle Carroll Goodwin, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Harold Hamrick

HODGES — Harold Ray “Peanut” Hamrick, 66, of 326 Asbury Road, died Saturday Jan. 6, 2007.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Mattie Shoffner

McCORMICK — Mattie Shoffner, 58, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at Savannah Heights Nursing Center.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Abraham L. Wideman

McCORMICK — Abraham L. Wideman, widower of Rev. Millie Ann Wideman, died Jan. 4, 2007, at the Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in McCormick, Jan. 12, 1918, he was a former member of the Tranquil A.M.E. Church and attended Macedonia F.B.H.
Church. He was retired from the Greenville Concrete Company and the U.S. Forestry Service.
Survivors are three daughters, Annie Pearl Wideman of Myrtle Beach, Mrs. Brenda (James) Jennings of Greenwood and Sarah Wideman of Atlanta; four sons, David (Mazie) Wideman of Aiken, Joseph (Ethel) Wideman of Myrtle Beach, Curtis (Jackie) Wideman of McCormick and Charles (Sherry) Wideman of Greenwood; a sister, Rebecca Dorn of Greenwood; two grandchildren reared in the home, Jesse (Gena) Wideman and Patricia (Tommy) Martin; 21 other grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Macedonia F.B.H. Church with the Rev. Quida Bennon officiating, assisted by Rev. Willie Elmore, Elder Paul Jennings and Rev. Dorothy Rapp.
The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at Walker Funeral Home.