Police still searching

Suspect allegedly stole wallet at Citizens Trust Company

June 19, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Uptown Greenwood was buzzing Monday as a man reportedly took off with the wallet of an Uptown office worker in a brazen lunchtime robbery.
Greenwood Police Department is investigating the alleged strong-armed robbery that is said to have occurred just after noon at Citizens Trust Company on Oregon Avenue.
Police Det. Steve McGee said late Monday afternoon the police department was still investigating and that he expected the prime suspect to be apprehended soon.
McGee said more information about the robbery and suspect would be released today. Police were reportedly searching for the suspect in the area around Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and Terrell Smith Avenue late Monday afternoon.
Len Grimes, of Citizens Trust, described what happened Monday.
“A man came in the back door and took off with the wallet of the lady that works up here,” Grimes said. “He reached in her purse and took the wallet out.”
Grimes said the front door that leads to the business offices is almost always kept locked. But on Monday, the back door was open.
Sources say the suspect, described as a light-skinned black man with long curly hair who looked to be in his late 20s, came in and looked around in several offices before honing in on the victim’s purse.
Grimes said the victim made all the appropriate calls Monday to have her credit and debit cards canceled.
The initial investigation created a stir in the Uptown area, as numerous police cars and emergency vehicles converged on Citizens Trust as inquisitive residents craned their necks in the 90-degree heat to get a look at what was going on.

Zoning ordinance hot issue in Saluda

June 19, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

SALUDA — Saluda County Council is shopping around for a zoning ordinance that fits the county best and ruffles the fewest feathers.
Economic development director Kim Westbury said Monday that a seven-member joint Saluda County Planning Commission has discussed zoning and land ordinance issues with the county council.
Westbury said the county is simply trying to learn about zoning and how it can help Saluda.
“Let’s define what we want for Saluda County,” she said. “We want it, to some degree, to be an assessment. We want to preserve the small-town charm.”
Westbury emphasized Saluda County wants to protect and highlight the positives it has now. She mentioned Lake Murray, the historical assets of the town of Saluda and what the surrounding towns such as Ridge Spring and Monetta have to offer.
“It’s all about charting your destiny verses being caught unprepared,” she said, adding other nearby towns and counties’ effective zoning practices are another reason for Saluda is looking to upgrade.
“When you see others (towns) setting the bar high, there is no reason why we shouldn’t set the bar high for ourselves,” she said.
So far, Westbury hasn’t heard any negativity surrounding the zoning and land ordinance proposals. But, then again, officials are only in the beginning stages.
“We are waiting to see what the proposals will generate,” she said. “This is going to be a long, drawn-out process.”
The process got a kick start from Rick Green of the Upper Savannah Council of Governments, who reported on the zoning as well as land-use planning at Saluda County Council’s June 11 meeting.
The plan is to advertise requests for zoning proposals in newspapers in Charlotte and Columbia.
Greenville and Augusta also were mentioned as possible locations for advertisement. Green said four or five companies in the state do the type of work the county needs.
The proposals should be in by Aug. 3. Green said a choice should be reached about a month later.
There are essentially two parts to the land-use planning and zoning projects, with the first being the comprehensive plan and the second being the zoning ordinance, Green said, adding a lot work will be involved in the mapping portion.

McCormick residents call for education reform

June 19, 2007

By LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writer

McCORMICK — Savannah Lakes Village activists Bill and Barbara Edmonson are very clear as to what changes they’d like to see in the McCormick County School District.
“We’d like to see four new faces on the board of trustees, we’d like to see a new superintendent and we’d like to see more money spent on education and less on administration,” Bill Edmonson said.
After searching for for two years for the perfect place to retire, Bill and Barbara Edmonson moved to Savannah Lakes 13 years ago.
“We lived in Maryland,” Bill said. “My wife was a paralegal who had her own business and I was in the Defense Department working with all the intelligence agencies.”
When they put down roots in McCormick, Bill said they had no knowledge of the area’s politics. That, however, changed quickly.
“The first time I became aware of it was when the school superintendent, Charles Parnell, and the school board, came forward with a $24 million bond,” Bill said. “They wanted to build a project on about 250 acres of land they had purchased the year before. The people never knew that they were planning this. We never knew it. The school board probably knew it, but we never knew it.”
One of the many reasons Bill, Betty and other Savannah Lakes residents feel ignored and believe they should have a larger role in the way the county is run and spends its money, has to do with where that money originated.
According to Bill Edmonson, in the 2005-06 tax year, in a county with a total population of about 10,000, the 1,600 people in Savannah Lakes paid 43.7 percent of the tax base collected by McCormick County.
“At that time this plan became known to the public, there were only about 200 families in Savannah Lakes,” Bill said. “We knew that if they went through with that, they would absolutely bankrupt this county, and it was a very, very foolish proposal on their part to even consider that type of a bond.”
When the school board and Savannah Lakes residents met for a discussion about the $24 million bond, Barbara explained, school board members told the residents what role they were expected to play.
“They made the famous statement that they were waiting for us to come because we were the goose that laid the golden egg.”
At that point, Bill explained, the residents became privy to the board’s entire plan.
“They told us they planned to build three schools,” Barbara said. “It was supposed to include two athletic fields, a practice gymnasium and real gymnasium.
“At that time, however, the school population was about 1,100. Since then the school population has decreased to about 850, and there’s only 240 in the high school with a graduating class of about 55 students.
“At that point, we became very contentious about it and that bond issue was defeated.”
Another reason Savannah Lakes residents balked at having to provide a major portion of the bond money was the destructive actions of some students.
“There was quite a lot of vandalism to the elementary school, and I also believe to the middle school,” Bill said.
When the school board introduced another bond issue, Bill explained, it also was defeated.
What also irks the Edmonsons is the final cost of the combination middle and elementary school on the 250-acre site that was finished in December 2004.
“It was budgeted at $12.5 million and eventually cost over $16 million,” Bill said.
What primarily concerns the Edmonsons, however, is the failure of an educational system that has put South Carolina dead last in the United States in college admission SAT test scores.
“We told the school board chairman at the time, if they could show us an improvement in the academic standing of the school and the students, we would not be opposed to this,” Barbara said. “The residents of Savannah Lakes care about the school system. We have been mentors in the school and been book buddies. We have gone out of our way to help out in that facility any way we can.”
Although neither Bill nor Barbara Edmonson can pinpoint exactly what should be done by the school board, the school superintendent, the administration or the staff of the three schools to turn out better-educated students, they do have a general concept of where changes first need to be made.
“The school board would get more support from the people in Savannah Lakes if they were honest with the people in Savannah Lakes, and the people of McCormick County and the parents of the students,” Bill said. “It’s a fairly well-known fact that the schools have promoted students who should have been retained, and that is the critical issue.
“When you promote them, as a district, you look smarter. You look better. Unfortunately, as those students go up through the chain of sixth, seventh and eighth grades and high school, they fall farther and farther behind.”
McCormick Superintendent Sandra Calliham said she has she met with the Edmonsons and attempted to address their concerns.
“I first met Barbara and Bill Edmonson after they first moved to Savannah Lakes, and I spent several hours with them answering their questions about the school district,” Calliham said.
“I’m not sure what they were expecting when they came to McCormick County. Every community has its plusses and its challenges, and McCormick County is no exception.”
Many of the problems with the schools today, Calliham explained, have a long history and have proven difficult to solve.
“It goes back to a long history of deserting the public school system around the time of integration, probably before,” Calliham said. “McCormick County is like any other county. It is what is. If you desire to be a part of it, there are opportunities to be involved.
“I don’t recall ever seeing either Mr.or Mrs. Edmonson in the schools, in the mentor program, the volunteer program or tutoring students. I do believe that both of them have talents and have skills that our children would benefit from perhaps in a one-to-one tutoring situation. There’s no substitute for getting to know the children that live in the community, building that one-on-one relationship, getting to know what the children are all about.”
Calliham also questioned the ability of any public official to please the Edmonsons.
“Since I met with the Edmonsons several years ago, I don’t think they’ve ever been happy here,” Calliham said. “I’m not sure what they’re looking for, and I don’t think McCormick County can make them happy.”
Calliham also said the Edmonsons’ desire to see four new members on the school board is an exercise in fruitless futility.
“As far as they’d like to see four new faces on the school board, the board members are elected by the people,” Calliham said. “The Edmonsons are, I’m sure, welcome in the community and they’re two citizens. They’re not the only citizens. The school board (is) representative of the students in the whole county.
“Most of the school board members are lifetime residents, which I believe gives them some insight as to where we were, where we’ve come to and where we need to go. I think that to just say we need four new members on the board, and that’s going to solve all the problems, is a statement that doesn’t show a lot of insight into the dynamics of what makes an effective school board.
“As far as needing a new superintendent, I serve at the pleasure of the board. I’m here to work with the children, and as long as I’m here I’ll give 110 percent to the children and the teachers every day.”

Post 20 struggles in loss

June 19, 2007

By SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

Greenwood American Legion manager Billy Dean Minor can teach the fundamentals of the game, whether it be pitching, fielding or defense.
The 13-year Post 20 manager, however, hasn’t figured out how to teach intensity.
Greenwood’s baseball team had the bases loaded in the sixth and a runner at second in the eighth and ninth innings Monday, but Post 20 was unable to bring them home and Walhalla Post 124 came away with a 4-3 victory at Legion Field.
“Our intensity level has got to pick up,” Minor said. “They think you can just flip a magic button. We had chances to beat (Walhalla).
“You can’t invent the intensity, you know?”
If they could, Walhalla right-hander Chip George must store it in bottles. George, a West-Oak High School graduate, pitched the complete game for Post 124 in 115 pitches. George, who has not signed with any colleges, struck out nine batters and walked one. He gave up nine hits and three earned runs.
“Their pitcher threw a good game,” said Minor, whose team dropped to 6-2 in League VII play.
Walhalla manager Ed Taylor said it was a big win for his club, since Greenwood has dominated league play the last three years.
“It’s a big win for us here,” said Taylor, whose team owns a 4-2 league record. “They do such a good job down here. We love to play them, because our kids get up for them.”
The sixth inning proved crucial to both teams. Walhalla put three runs on the board to take the lead, and Post 20 blew a golden opportunity to rally.
In the top of the sixth, Greenwood ace Brandon Miller walked the leadoff batter Joseph Taylor on a full count and Tim Fournier moved the runner to third on a two-strike single. Chad Guinn, Walhalla’s cleanup batter, roped a shot to the left field wall that scored Taylor, and Justin Merck followed it with a single to right-center field that scored Fournier.
Nolan Kolb added a single to score Guinn, before Miller settled down to record three consecutive outs.
“Brandon was able to turn it around and get out of it,” Minor said.
In the bottom of the sixth, Post 20 appeared poised to settle the score. Drew Willingham reached on an error by the first baseman, but was forced out during Corey Lloyd’s at-bat. With Lloyd at first base, Josh Lovvorn singled to center and advanced to second on the throw. Next, the umpire ruled that Matt White was hit by a pitch, which drew Taylor’s ire from the Walhalla dugout. But with the bases loaded, Justin Collier, who was 2-for-2 prior to his sixth-inning at-bat, struck out on a 2-2 count.
Despite Collier’s untimely strikeout, he scored Greenwood’s first two runs hitting from the No. 9 hole. In the third, he reached on a bunt single, advanced to second on a stolen base and third on a wild pitch. Cruse Tollison drove Collier in on a fielder’s choice.
In the fifth inning, Collier singled to right field and stole second base, the second of three swipes he would have in the game. He later scored on a Miller single.
Trailing 4-2, Greenwood added a run in the seventh inning. Miller singled, stole second base and scored on Christian Powell’s line drive to center field.
“We had chance after chance after chance,” Minor said.
Post 20 has another chance at a league game today at 7:30 p.m. at home against Greenville.

Obituaries

Alice Burdick Brown

Alice Burdick Brown, 80, is now a “Witness to the Resurrection”. She peacefully passed away at Greenwood Hospice House of Alzheimer’s on June 17, 2007. She lived at Wesley Commons with her husband Clayton of 56 years. Alice was born in Washington, DC, of the late Frances M. Burdick and Stuart E. Burdick.
Survivors in addition to her husband, Clayton R. Brown, include daughters, Deborah Brown of Germantown, MD, and Patricia Brown of San Diego, CA; a son, James Brown and daughter-in-law, Anna of Lawrenceville, GA; a sister, Beverly Ball, lives in Port Charlotte FL. Alice and Clayton have no grandchildren.
Services will be held at Wesley Commons on June 23, 2007 at 11 a.m., and inurnment will be in Rockville, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or The Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 332, Main Street, Suite 400A, Greenwood SC 29646
Palmetto Cremation Service (864) 878-6661 is serving the family.

Tommy Clinemyer

ANDERSON — Thomas Michael “Tommy” Clinemyer, 33, resident of 114 Hudson Circle, husband of Ashlee Livingston Clinemyer, died June 18, 2007.
Born in Clovis, New Mexico, Sept. 4, 1973, son of Charles R. Clinemyer, Sr. and Snow Lai Martin, he attended the University of South Carolina and was a member of New Springs Baptist Church in Anderson.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of Thomaston, GA, mother, father and stepfather, Thomas Martin, all of Greenwood, are two sons, Preston Clinemyer of Anderson and Anthony Blake of Thomaston, GA; daughter, Paige Clinemyer, also of Thomaston, GA; sister, Diane Bice of Greenwood; brothers, Charles Clinemyer, Jr. and Timothy Stalcup, both of Greenwood.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Blyth Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Chris Fuller, James Terry, Robin Hall, DeeDee Morris, Steve Bice and Chuck Norris.
The family is at the home of his mother, 204 Ferncliff Drive, Greenwood, and will receive friends Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
For additional information and online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Clinemyer family.

Mabel G. Harrison

McCORMICK — Mabel Gilchrist Harrison, 79, of 713 Mine St., widow of Robert Lee Harrison, died Monday, June 18, 2007 at her home.
The family is at the home of a daughter Mrs. Raymond (Mary) Cartledge, 693 Highway 283, Plum Branch.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Frances Keadle

Mary Frances Stewart Keadle, 89, resident of 318 Curl Creek Road, died June 18, 2007 at National Healthcare of Greenwood. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Herbert Eugene Keadle.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Hugh Graddick Stewart and Lila Mae Ellison Stewart. She was a member of Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church for 74 years.
Survivors include a son, Donald Stewart Keadle and his wife, Alice of Greenwood; a daughter, Beverly Keadle Skinner and her husband, Talmage of Spartanburg; a sister, Elaine Stewart Miner of Greenwood; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Danial Wiley and the Rev. Harvey Peurifoy officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Simmons, Steve Simmons, Mike Stewart, Keith Stewart, Harold Stewart, and Hubert Chandler.
Honorary escort will be the men of Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, along with L.C. Keadle, Bruce Keadle and Glenn Keadle.
The family acknowledges with great appreciation the care given by the staff at National Healthcare.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The family is at the home of her son, Don Keadle, 118 Stonebrook Court, off Old Woodlawn Road and will receive friends in the church social hall immediately following the service.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 772 Old Ninety Six Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Keadle family.

Maerzia Schoening

Maerzia Morgenthal Schoening, 84, formerly of Dogwood Drive, widow of Kurt Schoening, died Monday, June 18, 2007 at National Health Care of Mauldin.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Anne M. Spence

ABBEVILLE — Anne Johnson McMahan Spence, 65, of Sun City Center, FL, died June 13, 2007 at Bayshore Point Nursing Home in Tampa, FL. Born in Greenwood County, she was the daughter of the late Cecil McMahan and Helen Louise Huckabee and the niece of James Walter Huckabee and Murrell J. Huckabee. She was a student at Abbeville High School and later graduated from Chamblee High School in Atlanta, GA. She later went on to perform at the Cypress Gardens Ski show in Winter Haven, FL, being crowned “Snap Dragon Queen” of 1960. She then married Theodore Spence and became the devoted mother of Lisa and Barry Spence. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Lisa Spence Hendry of Tampa, FL; a son, Barry Theodore Spence of Los Angeles, CA; and two granddaughters, Amanda Spence Hendry and Kristen Marion Hendry of Tampa, FL.
Services will be held at Main Street United Methodist Church, Abbeville, Monday, June 25 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite .charity in memory of Anne.

Belle Tibbs

Graveside services for Belle S. Tibbs will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Ronald Chavis officiating.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The family members are at their respective homes.
Mrs. Tibbs, 90, resident of NHC, widow of William Ernest Tibbs, died Sunday, June 17, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Honea Path, she was a daughter of the late John and Eldora Morris Smith. She was retired from Greenwood Mills, Ninety Six Plant and was a member of Ninety Six Church of God.
Surviving are a sister, Paralee Holder of Greenwood; five nieces and a nephew.
Online condolences may be sent to the Tibbs family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Opinion

False Duke accusations have wide-ranging effect

June 19, 2007

Duke University, Durham, N. C., the student body, graduates and supporters are among those embarrassed and hurt because of one man: Mike Nifong, the disgraced district attorney of Durham County. However, the legal system, also took a hit.
Nifong, who says he will resign, was disbarred for “intentional prosecutorial misconduct.” The falsely accused Duke lacrosse players and their families had their reputations sullied and were forced to spend millions of dollars to fight the false accusations.
Nifong admittedly misused the law and will pay for crossing that legal line that says every accused person is innocent until proven guilty.
The false accusations were that the players had raped a black woman. Imagine the potential ramifications of that.

WHEN NIFONG FALSELY ACCUSED the Duke athletes, made incriminating public statements and withheld evidence, among other things, he acted as accuser, judge and jury. He convicted the athletes before they even went to trial.
But, then, because of Nifong’s hateful acts, many on the Duke University faculty did the same. So did others who were quick to exploit the false accusations, including members of the militant Black Panther organization.
The falsely accused lacrosse players, who were eventually cleared, went through months of ..... there’s only one way to describe it: hell. So did their families.
Some observers say Nifong did it for political reasons ..... to get reelected. If that’s true, what was the motivation of the quick- to-convict faculty, the Duke University administration, and others, including black and white demagogues?

THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE CIVIL suits filed by the athletes and their families. Under the circumstances, who wouldn’t sue? There is something to learn, of course. The law is there for a reason: to punish the guilty. When it is used incorrectly, as it was in this case, a lot of innocent people can be hurt, not only financially, but emotionally as well.
That, to be sure, could have a harmful effect on the mental and physical health of the falsely accused.
The greatest lesson of all, though, is seeing what happens when someone is falsely accused and abused by assumptions of guilt, not to mention official manipulation of circumstances to convict someone based only on unsubstantiated accusations.
That hurts everyone, even South Carolinians.