Youths learn fire safety at law enforcement camp

June 5, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Stacy Mundy was nervous.
She had never held a fire extinguisher that didn’t have a safety pin in it.
And not only was this one missing a pin, but she was being told to squeeze it. She tensed up a bit and timidly aimed the hose at the set of “fiery” cardboard boxes she had been asked to extinguish before 31 of her peers.
Stacy had to rely on her training — quickly.
Moments earlier Abbeville Senior Firefighter Lee Hesson had given Mundy and members of the 2007 Abbeville Law Enforcement Youth Camp instructions on the emergency operation of a fire extinguisher.
They were to P.A.S.S. (Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep).
Mundy grasped the handle firmly and with new resolve before following her teacher’s words to the letter in a picture-perfect P.A.S.S. technique as a cloudy fire retardant whooshed out and quickly doused the “flames.”
Her demonstration Monday was pretty cool — but could she do it again when it mattered? Could she P.A.S.S the test again under real heat?
“I definitely think that I could use one now,” she said. “I had never done anything like that before, but if I had to use one again I could do it.”
Each year, during the first week of June, Abbeville Police Lt. Tony O’Bannon helps to make the impossible possible Monday through Friday for his campers. They learn safety techniques, climb over rope courses, attend professional baseball games, bowl, swim and generally have lots of fun.
But the youngsters aren’t the only ones having a good time.
“How could you ever get tired of this?” O’Bannon asks, looking on as his energetic campers hurry to ooh and ahh around the fire truck and extinguisher. “This is is an absolute ball. I just love being around the kids.”
A compliment of 32 kids — ages 9 to 14 — have filled out the camp roster this year. Mundy said she attends for several reasons.
“I just like coming here every year and having fun,” she said. “We do a lot of new things and I like getting to meet new people.”
Earlier, Hesson had set a much more serious tone when he talked with the campers about fire safety and the general causes behind house fires.
“Fire treats everyone the same,” he said. “Fire doesn’t care if you are black or white, or if you are rich or poor, it will kill you just as quick.”
Hesson told the campers the leading causes of house fires — in varying order each year — are smoking, home heating (kerosene or space heaters) and cooking. He warned the kids not to leave pots on the stove unattended.
“If you’re responsible enough to cook, then you’re responsible enough to hold a pot holder or do something to remind you that you’re cooking,” he said Hesson also pleaded with them to make sure their homes have adequate protection via smoke detectors, and to make sure they pay attention to safety tips — the lives they save could be their own or that of their families.
One story he relayed was that of an 8-year-old boy who did just that in alerting his family to a fire in the dead of night.
“What you learn here can be put to use,” Hesson said. “What I do is rewarding work, but I’d still much rather be in here talking with you.”

Limb crashes on roof

June 4, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

“There’s a tree on the house!” Greenwood’s Frank Cates yelled to his wife Nancy about 12:30 a.m. Monday.
A loud crash woke Frank and prompted him to run to the door and find the cause of the disturbance. Upon opening the front door of his First Street house, Frank was greeted by several small tree limbs hanging down over his awning like curtains to a window. The limbs were attached to a much larger branch that had split near the trunk of a towering oak tree in the couple’s yard.
“It was a rude awakening,” Frank said with a slight laugh.
The couple spent a lot of time Monday gazing at the tree, baffled by its magnitude, thankful to be safe, relieved their vehicles were OK and puzzled about how to get the branch off the roof and prevent further damage.
“I can see it’s gone down even more,” Frank muttered about the damage to the awning while surveying the damage shortly after noon Monday.
However, the couple had to look on the bright side.
“If the middle one had fallen, it would have pushed weight on the other one and split the middle of the house,” Frank said. “I’d be just about ready to push up daisies.”
Nancy was glad the cars were OK, but still confused about how her car wasn’t even scratched. “I was worried about my car,” she said. “It was parked where the tree is.”“Praise the Lord; it didn’t get a scratch on it,” Frank added.
Frank said he’s usually a heavy sleeper, but “strange noises wake me up.”
“When I came out, I didn’t hear the wind blowing,” he said. “All the weight from the rain probably brought it down.”
The Cates spent Monday contacting people who could bring the rest of the limb down and remove it from the house; however, the city could not help because the tree is in the property of the land owner. The Cates, who rent their home, will have to discuss the problem with their landlord to get the tree down.
Frank was hopeful someone could be reached soon.
“I’m afraid the limbs could go through the roof of the awning,” he said.

A successful short game

Clint Tolleson takes lead in Festival junior tourney

June 5, 2007

By SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

Clint Tolleson and Will Ovenden have played plenty of rounds of golf together. Today, the two, along with Jacob Burger, of Orangeburg, make up the final pairing in the Festival of Flowers junior golf tournament at the Greenwood Country Club.
Tolleson owns a one-shot lead in the tournament after firing a 2-under-par 70 in the opening round. Ovenden and Burger are one shot behind with 71s.
Tolleson and Ovenden are teammates on Dorman High School’s state championship golf team and live in Spartanburg.
“We’re good buddies,” Ovenden said. “If he won, he’s the one person I wouldn’t mind losing to.
Obviously, I want to win, but if I had to lose to one person, it would probably be him.” Trailing by two shots are Kyle Bearden, of Barnwell, Hayden Letien, of Sumter, Hampton Jones, of Aiken, Brandon Truesdale, of Winnsboro, and Arran Setro, of Moore. Tied at 73 are J.B.
Murphy, of Columbia, Matt Martin, of Greenwood, Walt Todd, of Laurens, Jared Crane, of Taylors, and Thomas Horne, of Abbeville. All total, there are 21 golfers within five shots of the lead.
Tolleson, a rising senior at Dorman who has already committed to play at USC, said he was pleased with his first round.
“I started off pretty well,” Tolleson said. “I birdied the first hole, but I really wasn’t hitting it that well. My short game was coming through for me. I only hit three greens on the front nine, and I still managed to only shoot 1 over.”
It was the back nine, despite the sporadic wind gusts, where Tolleson made his move.
Over the final nine holes, Tolleson fired a 3-under 33.
“In the back, I was starting to hit it better and I hit all nine greens,” Tolleson said. “Most of my putts weren’t going in though. Most of my birdies came on the par-5s.
The short game is what got me there today. Just being able to get up and down was tough enough.”
Tolleson said he hadn’t played in a tournament at the Greenwood Country Club since a pee wee event when he was 12 years old. He did play two practice rounds at the club to prepare for the tournament.
Tolleson, who was named all-state after the Class AAAA state golf tournament, said he’s been playing fair golf, but he’s hoping this tournament is the start of good things.
“I’ve been playing decent golf,” Tolleson said. “I got all-state, but I still didn’t play as well as I wanted to. My short game is coming through, My ball striking isn’t where I want it to be. But I’m getting there.”
While Tolleson closed with a flurry, Ovenden made his noise on the front nine. Ovenden, a Clemson signee, shot a 3-under 33 on the front nine before closing with a 2-over 38.
“I was striking the ball well and everything was good,” Ovenden said. “I had three birdies and no bogeys on the front nine, so it was a good, solid front nine. I got the back and the driver started to go a little sideways. I didn’t make too many puts. I was a little disappointed with how I finished.”
Burger, who is also Clemson bound, played the most consistent round at the top. Burger fired a 36 on the front nine and a 35 on the back.
“I played solid, but I left a lot of shots on the golf course,” Burger said. “I got to every par-5 in two and only parred two of them. I feel like I hit it good, but I left too much on the shot.”

Obituaries

Bernice Archie Duckett

Bernice A. Duckett, 84, of Wesley Commons, formerly of 119 Tompkins St., passed away Saturday, June 2, 2007 at Wesley Commons.
Born in Clinchco, VA, she was a daughter of William and Dora Archie.
She graduated from Brewer High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Winston-Salem Teacher’s College and Master’s of Science Degree from A&T University. Additional studies were pursued at Atlanta University, South Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina.
She was a well-known Educator in Greenwood County and throughout the State of South Carolina. She is best remembered by her former students and peers as a very articulate and effective teacher and guidance counselor at Brewer High and Greenwood High Schools. Her teaching career began with a two-year stay at the Franklin County Training School, Louisburg, North Carolina. She joined the Brewer High School Faculty in the fall of 1946 and remained there until the fall of 1970, when the schools were integrated. She went to Greenwood High School and continued to work as a guidance counselor until she retired in June of 1984.
Over one hundred fifty poems, songs and many speeches were written. “Life in The Sky” was published in The National Library Book of Poetry, International Society of Poets.
Mrs. Duckett was well known and respected for her civic involvement in Greenwood and South Carolina; she encouraged youth to further their education and worked in the community improving the quality of life for others. She was a member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Scholarship Committee.
Her affiliations were many and varied: Rochelle Chapter No. 298 O.E.S.; Greenwood Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.; N.A.A.C.P.; National Council of Negro Women; Community Relations Committee of Greenwood Chamber of Commerce; Advisory Committee of Black Concerns at Lander College; State Education and Public Information Committee of S.C. Mental Health Association; Yellow Jessamine Garden Club; South Carolina Committee on Meeting the Challenge of Cancer Among Black Americans; Area Council on Human Relations; Secretary and Human Rights Committee of GLEAMNS Community Actions, Inc.; and the Advisory Council for Greenwood County Commission on School and Drug Abuse.
She served on the Board of Directors for Greenwood County Mental Health Association; Greenwood County Rehabilitation Workshop; The Museum; Greenwood County Unit, American Cancer Society; American Red Cross; Counselor Advisory Board of Piedmont Technical College; Secretarial Science Department of Piedmont Technical College; United Way of Greenwood County; and SCEA Legislative Commission.
Honors include “75th International Honoree” by Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. in 1988 and many other state-level awards for her work in education.
She is survived by two sisters, Louise A. (Ira) Tucker, Philadelphia, Penn., and Dora (James) Chenault of Stone Mountain, Ga.; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Noon Wednesday at Morris Chapel Baptist Church, with Reverend Ricky Syndab officiating.
Burial will be in Evening Star. Flower bearers will be members of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
Pallbearers will be deacons and trustees of the church. Honorary escorts will be the O.E.S. No. 298. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 7-8 p.m. at the funeral home chapel.
The family is at 1219 Florida Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bernice A. Duckett Scholarship Fund, c/o Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., P.O. Box 324, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Florence K. Menard

Florence Kelly Menard, 101, of Wesley Commons, widow of Clifford G. Menard, died Sunday, June 3, 2007 at Hospice House.
She was born in Pittsfield, MA, where she taught school and then lived most of her life in Shrewsbury, MA, and Richmond, VA. She was Catholic.
Surviving are her son, Robert Menard of Greenwood; a grandson, Mason Menard and his wife, Laurie Smith Menard, of Greenwood; a granddaughter, Kelly Roller and her husband, William Roller, of Charlotte, NC; and four great-grandchildren, Matthew Menard of Greenwood, Stephen Roller, Lindsey Roller and Kacie Roller, all of Charlotte.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Nancy Ware

IVA — Nancy Ann Smallwood Ware, 55, of 116 Ware Road, wife of Ronnie Ware, died Monday, June 5, 2007 at her home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Opinion

Grendel village ‘march’ positive lesson for all

June 5, 2007

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
That, of course, is the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. It applies to a lot of things going on in the nation these days. The freedoms it embodies are of, by and for all the people and are not the sole possession of one group or one person. They are there to legally protect the rights of every group and every individual.
No better example of exercising those rights can be found than a recent positive event in Greenwood.

THAT WAS IN THE GRENDEL Village section of the city where members of a Crime Watch group used their right to peaceably assemble by joining to march against crime in their community.
They also exercised their right to free speech by carrying anti-crime signs. Crime Watch co-chairwoman Arlene Morgan added emphasis by shouting along the route of the march,”We’re taking back our community!”
Beth Rembert, president of the community group thanked the marchers and put the right to expression and assembly in perspective. “Thank you for coming out and making a statement for our community.”
In an era when there are so many questionable anti-everything protests, seeing a community taking a positive step, constitutionally, is encouraging.

ALSO IN AN ERA WHEN “civics” sometimes doesn’t seem to be an integral part of educating our children, the Grendel Village residents provided us all a lesson in citizenship. There are times, of course, when the exercise of constitutional freedoms - and rights - is a valuable tool for parents to use ..... if they would only take advantage of opportunities that come their way.
After all, experience, they say, is the best teacher.
In reality, then, the Grendel Crime Watch folks did more than speak out against crime. They showed the rest of us what being good citizens is all about.