Ninety Six names chief

Interim Denny gets the nod

March 13, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — Town council member Judy Sargent evidently couldn’t wait until Mayor Tim Griffin announced the new police chief.
She looked over at interim police chief Don Denny during a discussion of the police chief’s salary at a special town council meeting Monday night. Minutes later, Denny was officially voted in unanimously as Ninety Six’s new police chief after a closed meeting.
“I think we did a good job searching,” Sargent said.
Town council members also voted to pursue open applications for a new town clerk/treasurer. Mayor Tim Griffin said Kim Wipf, the former town clerk/treasurer hired Jan. 9, left her position this month.
Denny has been Ninety Six’s interim police chief off and on since Oct. 18., 2006.
Former police chief Pat Dixon left on Jan.10, citing personal reasons. Dixon’s role as police chief wasn’t without its share of intrigue.
He was suspended without pay July 20, 2005, with the suspension being upheld by town council until Aug. 22, 2005.
The reason for his suspension was the talk of the town at the time.
Rumor was that Dixon was trying to stand up for himself and the police department during a discussed disbanding of the Ninety Six Police Department in favor of service by the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.
Dixon blamed a council member’s personal vendetta against him for the suspension, saying he cited former public safety committee chairman Steve Turner’s son and daughter-in-law for a traffic violation for expired tags.
Part of Dixon’s reinstatement agreement included a written apology to Turner and his family. Large crowds of Ninety Six residents booed Dixon’s suspension at a council meeting and cheered when he was reinstated at another meeting.
Denny said he promised council members to bring stability to the police department and stop so much turnover in police officers.
He said he wants to do a good job as police chief.
Denny said Monday that he was glad to get the job and continue to serve the people of Ninety Six.
“That’s what I worked for,” Denny said.
Griffin said he and public safety committee chairman and council member Elliott Richardson interviewed two applicants: Denny and Michael Brown, a school resource officer in McCormick.
Richardson said his choice for police chief was Brown, based on his resume, but that the town couldn’t afford to pay his salary requirements.

Lander’s Ponds, Good make All-Region team

March 13, 2007

From staff reports


Lander’s Tiara Good and Stephanie Ponds were named to the 2006-07 Daktronics Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic All-Region team announced last week.
The All-Daktronics team is voted on by the region’s sports information directors.
Good, a 5-9, junior from Jonesville, was named to first-team, while Ponds, a 6-2 junior from Bethune, was included on the second team.
Good is now eligible for Daktronics All-American honors.
Good led the Lady Bearcats to a 15-13 regular season record in her first season with the team, finishing third in the North Division at 9-7.
Selected as the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, Good led the league in scoring at 21.9 points per game, while pulling down 7.2 rebounds and dishing out a league-leading 6.3 assists per game.
Good scored at least 20 points 15 times during the season.
Ponds, who was also included on the All-Peach Belt team, averaged 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Tanetra Barrett of Wingate University was selected as the South Atlantic Region Player of the Year.
Joining Barrett and Good on the first team are Georgia College & State University’s Marquita Driskell, North Carolina Central’s Cassie King and Elizabeth City’s Celeste Trahan.
Also making the second team were Abby DeBusk (Mars Hill), Tonique Frasier (Newberry), Kaneetha Gordon (Armstrong Atlantic State), and Deanna Price (Elizabeth City State).

Obituaries

Gene Fox

NINETY SIX — Freddie Eugene “Gene” Fox, 74, of 7105 Hwy. 246 South, husband of Erma Davis Fox, died Sunday, March 11, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Del Rio, TN, he was a son of the late Zeb and Marcella Turner Fox. He attended Del Rio High School and Washington College Boarding School, retired from Greenwood Mills as a supervisor after 42 years of service, working in both the Ninety Six and Adams plants, and was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, and was a member of the American Legion and the Ninety Six Church of God.
Surviving is his wife of the home; two sons, Freddie Steven Fox and Russell Van Fox, and his wife, Robin, all of Ninety Six; two sisters, Louise McKinney of Greenwood and Amozine Fortner of Ninety Six; a brother, Earl Fox of Ninety Six; two grandsons, Russell Fox, Jr. and Lucas Zeb Fox; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Ninety Six Church of God, with the Rev. Ronald Chavis and the Rev. Roy Burroughs officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Neal Womack, Tim Riley, Glenn Fox, Dennis Weathers, Tim Goldman, Michael Hallman and Glenn Davis. Honorary escort will be Joe Hallman, Hiram Mitchell, Bobby Womack, Harold Butler, Dean Goldman, Vernon Murray, Donnie Davis, Jack Walker, Tim Whitman, Malcom Price, Don Lomax and Bobby Agner.
The family will receive friends in the Family Life Center of Ninety Six Church of God on Tuesday from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Ninety Six Church of God building fund, PO Box 297, Ninety Six, SC 29666.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Walter Wilson ‘Bruno’ Garner

ABBEVILLE — Walter Wilson “Bruno” Garner, 68, of 355 Stevenson Road, Abbeville, SC, husband of Elizabeth Hazzard Garner, formerly of Charleston, SC, entered into eternal rest on Friday, March 9, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood, SC.
He was born in Charleston, SC, to the late Wally and Ora Lee Garner. He resided in Abbeville, SC, for the past forty-five years. He was an active member of St. Peters A.M.E. Church and served on the Steward Board and many other areas where needed, until his declining health. He was a vital part of the community, always willing to lend support to whomever needed it. He was employed at Pirelli Cable for thirty-five years. He also served his country in the United States Army for several years.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one daughter, Pamela Celeste Garner and one son, Kelvin Lee Garner, both of the home; two grandchildren, Montell Verlon Garner and Kivionte Garner; one sister, Mrs. Delores Jamerson, one brother, Lee W. Garner, both of Charleston, SC.
Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at St. Peters A.M.E. Church in Abbeville, SC, with Rev. Carnell Morton officiating and Rev. James Kay and Rev. Brenda Lomax assisting.
The body will be placed in the church at noon. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens on Hwy. 72, with full military honors.
Viewing will be Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at the Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. from 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences can be sent to awmort@wctel.net.
Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc., Abbeville, SC, is in charge of arrangements.

Calvin Odis Johnson

SALUDA — Calvin Odis Johnson, 53, died on March 8, 2007.
He was born in Saluda County, SC, son of the late Ellis and Lucille Bledsoe Johnson.
He is survived by three brothers, Rickie, Bennie and Robert Johnson; four sisters, Vickie, Dorothy, Willie Mae and Betty Jean Johnson.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2007, at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

William Keller Sr.

DONALDS — William Keller, Sr., 93, of 311 Dunn Creek Road, died Monday, March 12, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
He was born in Abbeville County, was a retired farmer and a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hodges, SC.
He was the widower of Melinda Mays Keller, the son of the late Willie and Fannie Jefferson Keller and was also preceded in death by two sons, William Keller Jr. and Bobby Harold Keller.
He is survived by two sons, Ernest Napoleon Keller, Honea Path and Roy F. Keller, Greenwood; eight daughters, Johnny Mae Shackelford, Dayton, OH, Shirley Rouse and Betty Ruth Keller, both of Ware Shoals, Juliette Green, Philadelphia, PA, Mary Blakely, Greenville, Linda Gail Keller, Hodges, and Ruby Hughes and Ida A. Keller, Donalds; brother, Homer Keller, Philadelphia; two sisters, Louise Gilbert, Philadelphia, PA, and Ruth Gray, Rock Hill, SC; 30 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Arrangements will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, SC.

Frances McGaha

DONALDS — Frances Seawright McGaha, 73, of Church Street, wife of Homer McGaha, died Monday, March 12, 2007 at AnMed Medical Center in Anderson.
Services will be announced by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Jamaar Jarvis Mims

McCORMICK — Mr. Jamaar Jarvis Mims died in McCormick, SC, on March 10, 2007. He was born in Greenwood, SC, Aug. 27, 1984, a son of Mikil Mims and Rose Marie Tennant Mims (Cheatham). He formerly attended Greenwood High School, and was formerly employed at Greenwood Mop and Broom. Survivors are his parents; his stepmother, Terri Mims of Easley, SC, and stepfather, Thomas Cheatham of Greenwood, SC; a son, JayShun Hackett of Greenwood; a brother, Jamaal Mims of Greenwood; three sisters, Marquita Herrington of Augusta, GA, and Raven Mims and Ronada Mims of Greenwood; grandmothers, Evelyn Mims, McCormick and Sudie Dell Tennant of Greenwood; grandfathers, Wilber Mims of Conway and Robert Lee Parker of Callison; great-grandparents, Annie Kate Freeman, Josie Lee Tennant and Annie Mae Mims. Services are Thursday at 2 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Peggy Zellars officiating. The family is at the home of his grandmother Mrs. Evelyn Mims at Rt. 1 Box 680-E, Pine Hill Subdivision, McCormick. Walker Funeral Home, directors.

Ronnie Stone

LEXINGTON — Ronald Franklin “Ronnie” Stone, 51, resident of 250 Filhol Road, husband of Jacqueline Ruth Covert Stone, died March 11, 2007 at his residence.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Harold F. and Lillie Mae Chapman Stone. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of the home, are a daughter, Amanda S. Peace of Pelion; 2 sons, Christopher F. Stone, also of Pelion and Daniel N. Stone of Ruskin, FL; 3 brothers, Gary W. Stone of Columbia, Charles T. Stone of Greenwood and Clyde A. Stone of Hodges; and 4 grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with Reverend Hal Lane officiating.
Pallbearers will be Shane Stone, Corey Stone, Greg Hughes, John Heemaneth, Jr., Kenneth Westmoreland and Roy Chapman.
The family is at the home of his brother Charles T. Stone, 313 Green Oaks Road, Greenwood and will receive friends Thursday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Blyth Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Blyth Funeral Home in honor of Ronnie.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Stone family.

Doris Ann Watts

Doris Ann Watts, 52, of 345 W. Creswell Street, wife of Henry Watts, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Johnston, she was a daughter of the late Pierce Simpkins, Jr. and Aminea Jones Simpkins. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.
She is survived by, in addition to her husband of the home, a son, Kendall Watts of Greenwood; two daughters, Drewcilla Watts-Calhoun and Melissa Watts, both of Greenwood; two brothers, Freddie Simpkins and Calvin Simpkins, both of Greenwood; a sister, Glenda Dendy of Greenwood; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at Macedonia Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Willie Harrison officiating.
Burial will be in Evening Star. Flower bearers will be the nieces and cousins, and pallbearers will be the nephews and cousins. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Watts family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Dottie Worthington

WATERLOO — Doris Bentley Worthington, 70, of 875 Relax Street, wife of Charles L. Worthington, died Sunday, March 11, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Ruth Goodman Davenport. She was retired from the Laurens County Health Department and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her first husband, Grady Bentley and a sister, Sarah Collette.
Surviving are her husband of the home; two daughters, Debra B. Curtis of Oak Island, NC, and Ashley Bentley of Wilmington, NC; a son, Michael Bentley and his wife, Helen, of Waterloo; a stepson, Charles Ray Worthington of Kinards; a sister, Jean Hull of Waterloo; a brother, Albert Davenport of Greenwood; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Grady Lothridge officiating.
The family is at the home and will receive friends there following the service.
Memorials may be made to Emerald Center, PO Box 3004, Greenwood SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Opinion

Gang activities in S.C. getting needed attention

March 13, 2007

There are street gangs in South Carolina and the violence they bring with them is all too evident. Not very long ago such a statement would have been greeted by a lot of people around the state as just talk. Now, though, it’s not “just talk” anymore. More and more officials are seeing and publicly talking about the problem.
It’s not just a big city problem, either. From what various officials around the Palmetto State say, gang activity has, unfortunately, spread not only into small towns. It’s become evident in rural areas.
There have been shoot-outs involving rival gang members in several places of late, including Columbia and in rural Colleton County. Charleston, too, has had its share of gang violence, as has Orangeburg, and gang activity also has been noticed in the Greenwood area and around the Upstate.

COLUMBIA MAYOR BOB COBLE put it this way: “I don’t think there is any question that gangs are a problem here or anywhere in South Carolina. It’s like global warming. We don’t want to debate whether it exists anymore, we want to find a solution.”
Solution indeed. From appearances, though, we’ve taken the first important step. Just like alcoholism, we first had to admit there was an overall problem, not one confined to any particular locale.
Apparently that’s been done by many law enforcement officials all over the state. Now special police units are being formed to address the gang problem, both on local and statewide levels. It had to be only a matter of time, though. The issue was forced by reality.

WITH SOMETHING AS SERIOUS and violent as street gangs, no one, law enforcement agencies or anyone else, could continue to be reluctant to admit or deny there is a problem. That’s something no one wants to admit. After all, it reflects on the reputation and safety of communities and the state.
Nevertheless. it’s real. It has been for some time. And it’s been growing. Something had to be done. Maybe admitting a problem exists is the first step that will lead to a real solution. Cleaning up the landscape and eliminating the thugs that impact the state’s reputation may raise a few eyebrows as outsiders - and some insiders - look at our state.
Imagine, though, how much worse it would look - and be - if we continued to bury our collective head in the sand and did nothing.