The ITEM Sumter, S.C., Monday, August 22, 1994 Page 9A FROM PAGE 1A House approves anti ti-crime bill examples of how the anti -crime bill approved by the House Sunday night was changed from the version blocked on Aug. 11: The new version cuts $3.3 billion, for a total cost of $30.2 billion, with most of the reduction in crime -prevention programs. The balance is now: Previously: almost for law enforcement for law enforcement almost for prisons each for prisons for crime prevention and for crime prevention drug courts The compromise agreed to by negotiators would authorize spending $10.8 billion on state and local law enforcement, including $8.8 billion to help put 100,000 new police on the streets. It would allow lifetime imprisonment for some three-time violent and drug felons, expand the death penalty to more than 50 additional crimes and allow 13-year-olds to be tried as adults for many violent federal crimes. Leaves intact the ban on assault-style firearms.
AP Crime bill has rough road ahead in partisan Senate FROM PAGE 1A going to be awfully hard to stop. Folks aren't crazy about "This fight is far from over" Biden acknowledged, neverthein the Senate, Clinton said after less, that he does not expect all the vote. He lauded the bi- Democrats to support the bill and partisan House cooperation- added, "My dilemma is to get virsaying, "This is the way Wash- tually all the Democrats and beington should work, and I hope tween five and eight Republiit works this way in the future." cans." But Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of The House compromise was Utah, senior Republican on the backed by 188 Democrats, 46 ReSenate Judiciary Committee, publicans and one independent.
warned, "It still may collapse." Voting against it were 131 RepubHatch vowed to fight "soft, licans and 64 Democrats. fluffy language that will not do The assault weapons ban, anything against crime." which originally passed the Senate Hatch said the House bill by a 56-43 vote, also could be troufalls short of the money needed blesome as Biden searches the to build more prisons, reach the Senate for 60 votes. goal of hiring 100,000 new po- The National Rifle Association, lice officers and combat gang which failed to eliminate the lanviolence. He also wants faster guage in the House bill, is ready to deportation procedures for il- work even harder in the Senate. legal aliens who commit crimes The NRA's chief lobbyist, Tanand harsher mandatory mini- ya Metaksa, called the House bill mum sentences when firearms "a defeat for the American peoare used in criminal acts.
ple." The anti-crime legislation would be paid for with savings How South Carolina's delegation votfrom reduction of the federal ed: workforce. Democrats: Jim Clyburn, yes; Butler Biden said Senate Republi- Derrick, yes; John Spratt, yes.cans are "going to do every-, Republicans: Bob Inglis, no; Arthur thing they can to stop it, but it's Ravenel, no; Floyd Spence, no Riley, Theodore lock horns at debate FROM PAGE 1A between Riley and Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore, held in the WIS-TV stuyou want to hear. And he does it with all the skill of a TV preach- Riley debunked Theodore's er," Ravenel said on Columbia's charges in earlier television ads WIS-TV.
that property taxes in Charleston The program, taped Satur- have risen dramatically during his day, was a semi-debate, with tenure. User fees at the city's golf Ravenel answering questions course have increased, he said, as by satellite from Washington, have fees for traffic and parking D.C., and Beasley answering violations, but property taxes have them in the station's studio. gone down. Beasley called Ravenel's ques- Riley also charged that Theotions about his support from the dore's plan to help middle class Christian Coalition "sad." families pay for college won't go In the Democratic race for into effect for seven years. Riley governor, Charleston Mayor Joe said he didn't want to wait that Riley came out swinging in the long to make college affordable for station's formal debate all who qualify to attend.
NAACP board loses faith in Chavis FROM PAGE The chairman of the NAACP's board is William Gibson, a Green- ville dentist. Gibson said he is uncertain whether he will seek re-election in February. Chavis was hired in April 1993 at the urging of Gibson, who has been chairman of the civil rights organization for nine years. "It was not a happy occasion for me," Gibson told The Greenville News after Saturday's marathon meeting. "Ben Chavis was a friend of mine.
It's regretful the dirc*mstances happened that led the board to lose faith in 1. Adams said Gibson should not resign from his post, as some in the organization have demanded. "He's one of the most dedicated African-American leaders I think his integrity is beyond reproach," she said. Gibson said he has the necessary support to stay if he chooses. He said he never was concerned the board would oust him as well.
The firing of Chavis surprised Charleston NAACP chapter president Dwight James. "I hadn't anticipated that strong a reaction would have resulted from the meeting," he said. "I thought, and I still think, he has great leadership potential. All that transpired during Dr. Chavis' brief tenure has not been bad," James said.
"There's been a lot of good that has come out the last 16 or 17 months. Much of that will continue." It is important to continue outreach efforts aimed at young people, James said. South Carolina projects will be unaffected, several leaders said. "I think we will how be able to focus more on civil 'rights issues, something that we're all about, rather than trying to defend ourselves," Bostic said. "We will continue to do our work here in the trenches It shouldn't affect our local work at all, Adams said.
NATION 11 killed in highway crash WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) A Lt. Bob Dale. The fuel line on the utility vehicle crossed a highway Blazer apparently ruptured, and center line and slammed into a all the victims were severely car packed with passengers, set- burned in the ensuing fire, he ting both vehicles on fire and kill- said. ing all 11 people in them, authori- Patrol Capt.
Thomas Robbins ties said. said there were no witnesses to Five children were among the the accident. It wasn't known how victims of Sunday evening's crash fast the vehicles were traveling. A about two miles this cen- team of state patrol investigators ital Washington city, the state pa- from Bellevue was at the scene trol said. this morning.
The victims in the A northbound Chevrolet Ca-: car were the driver, his wife and price sedan and a southbound their four children ages 2 to an-, Chevy Blazer crashed head-on in other woman and her child; and a the northbound lanes, said patrol fourth adult. School days return for local students FROM PAGE 1A "We would rather have parents enroll their children during the Ciaran, a four year old student at Sumter 2's Oakland Elementary School, was so nervous al about her: first day of pre-school today that she couldn't remember her last name: Ciaran's hands, with their chipped pink polish that matched the roses in her dress, moved nervously in her lap, Sitting with her classmates against a wall, her enormous brown eyes were serious. She had focused them on her parents, Claire and Mark Feste, who were standing across the hall, keeping an eye on Ciaran. "Just go," said Mark Feste to his wife, as the bell rang and the children rose. "She'll be all right." Jake Tolison, 5 years old "almost 6" was meeting his firstgrade teacher for the first time.
"Jake, Jake, I'm really not a bad person," said teacher Linda Tolson. She laughed. With one hand in his mother's, Jake returned to his spot along the hallway wall, where he sat with other first-graders waiting to see their new classroom. Jake was a little nervous. But the little boy with brown eyes and neatly combed blond hair had come prepared.
He was wearing his new hiking boots. He was accompanied by his mom, Debbie, his dad, Johnny, and his little sister, Tomi. And he had sharpened his new pencil before leaving the house. Jake was also excited. "It's the first day of school," he explained.
He twisted the Lion King lunch bag in his hands. The bell rang. Jake looked startled. "Are you going to be OK?" asked his dad. "Yeah," said Jake.
He didn't look so sure. "So you'll be able to find the classroom when I drop you off tomorrow?" asked his mom. "Yeah," said Jake. This time he smiled. "Do you want your sister to kiss you goodbye?" asked his mom.
"No!" said Jake. He scrambled to his feet, tossed a big smile over his shoulder to his waving family and disappeared into the classroom. Shawn Lewis, 6, was in touch with his emotions this first day of school. Unfortunately, those emotions weren't very comfortable. "Mommy! Mommy! I don't want to," said Shawn.
Tears streaked his Rogers' face. He second-grade darted out of classroom Mrs. back to his aunt, Shiffer Fullard. Shawn grabbed his aunt's hand and pulled hard on it, away from the classroom. But Fullard walked him in.
In front of the school, assistant principal Tom Wright said Oakland's traffic situation was under control. "Most of the parents are cooperating nicely and following the new traffic pattern we've set up," Wright said. "They're making the transition much better 1 than we expected." Across town, the biggest high school in the state was buzzing with activity this morning as an estimated 2,500 students moved at a snail's pace through the hallways of Sumter 17's Sumter High School, which seemed to be dripping with students. Despite the normal traffic jam in front of the school caused by SHERRY D. McQUILLAR Sherry Deloris McQuillar died Sunday, Aug.
21, 1994, at her home. Born on Oct. 23, 1964, in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a daughter of Eugene and Elizabeth Loney McQuillar. The family will receive friends at the home of her mother, 40 Oakwood Subdivision in Dalzell. will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc.
COREAN PLOWDEN Corean Plowden of 926 S. Harvin St. died Monday, Aug. 22, 1994, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. The family will receive friends at the home.
Services will be announced by Community Funeral Home. ISAAC H. KENNEDY NEW ZION Isaac H. Kennedy, 61, died Sunday, Aug. 21, 1994, at Dorn Veterans Hospital in Columbia after an illness.
Born in New Zion, he was a son of the late Luther Sr. and Flossie Prince Kennedy. The family will receive friends at the home of his brother-in-law and sister, Jeremiah and Emma Dinkins, Route 1, Box 286, WalkerGamble Road, New Zion. Services will be announced by Samuels Funeral Home of Manning. parents dropping their kids off, the first day at Sumter High started without a hitch.
Students trying to find their friends and first-period classrooms had to fight mini-battles of elbows and gentle shoves to fight their way through the immense crowd. All students stood in a large commons area in the front of the school until a few minutes before classes began at 8:15 a.m. A handful of teachers and administrators struggled to keep tabs on the sea of students. Math teacher Rick Martin said administrators and teachers try to keep students from wandering the halls before classes so that teachers have a fighting chance of getting to their classrooms before their students. Senior LaShonda Council said she was excited to be back in school and looks forward to English class her favorite subject.
She looks more forward to graduation, however, and plans to attend Hampton University in Virginia to study pre-law. Council expects to be fairly stressed out this year because she is senior class secretary, a varsity cheerleader and a member of several other organizations. First impressions are often everything in middle school. And Sumter 2's High Hills Middle School this morning was no exception. Sporting shorts, new sneakers and colorful backpacks slung over one shoulder, the seventh- and eighth-graders crowded around a bulletin board on the sidewalk in front of their school.
The board held their fates: which names, passed down in infamy from older brothers and sisters, would be their homeroom te teachers. It was just 7 a.m., but that didn't seem to mute the students' reactions, which floated out over the dewy grass into the pale gray morning. "Who ya got?" "Hey, yo! Find my name!" "I can't find mine either." Julius Greeg, 14, was looking for his name on the list. Was he scared of who he might get as a homeroom teacher? said the seventh-grader, "I'm scared to come here Julius found his name but showed no strong reaction one way or the other. Looking resigned to' his fate another year of school he stuck his hands in the pockets of the shorts worn fashionably low on his hips, and melted into the crowd.
Alicia Lacey, 10, was standing nearby with her mom, Theresa Lacey. The sixth-grader wasn't saying much either, but for a different reason: She was nervous. "Do you want me to stay with you?" her mother asked. "Yes," said Alicia. She gave her mom a grateful smile.
What exactly was making Alicia nervous? She shook her head in amazement, shifting the tiny braids framing her face. "You don't know where to begin?" suggested her mother. Alicia smiled again. "Going in the classroom she said in a small voice. "I'm going to be answering for her this morning," said her mom.
"She's so nervous she can't speak. Usually her mouth is running. Theresa Lacey moved her fingers together in the air, imitating a mouth in constant motion. The mother laughed. But the morning wasn't all bad.
Elementary. checks Alicia knew her homeroom teacher would be OK, because her older brother had had the same one. And though she wasn't looking forward to math class, the thought of her favorite subject, science, brought forth another radiant smile. High Hills Principal Dennis Bolen, a walkie-talkie clipped to his belt, was directing students out front. He said things were going "a little smoother than usual.
The buses are coming in sporadically, not piling up." Bolen said his biggest challenge on the first day is to make sure students have their schedules straight and that they eat both breakfast and lunch. Lee County Schools begin Thursday. While students returning to school were excited today probably none were more so than those at Scott's Branch High School in Summerton. The students left behind a 40- year-old delipadated building and entered a new $8.5 million facility with sparkling walls and soaring spaces. "This is something we needed for a long time," said Scott's Branch junior Serena Pearson.
"It looks very nice." "This school's rolling," Robin Richburg, a senior, said. "The whole building's nice. The kids are definitely gonna take care of it." Attendance figures were not available at press time for either the high school or the district. Clarendon School Districts 2 and 3 also did not have attendance figures available this morning. At Clarendon 3's East Clarendon High School, the computer system was not working, according to Gwen co*ker, secretary to the superintendent.
co*ker said students were lined up in the hallways of the schools waiting to be registered so they could go to their classes. Care of the Clarendon 1's new Scott's Branch building was on a lot of minds this morning during a schoolwide assembly in the gym. "We have been blessed with this beautiful new school," student body President Latasha Henry told her fellow students. "It is up to us to keep it beautiful. No one else will." OBITUARIES EULICE L.
PORTER LAWTEY, Fla. Eulice L. Porter, 87, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 1994, in a Gainesville, hospital after an illness. Born in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Jim and Janie Barfield Porter.
Mr. Porter was a retired automobile mechanic. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. today at Newton F.W.B. Church Cemetery.
Announcement is by Floyd Funeral Home of Olanta. STEVEN L. CARSON CHAMBLEE, Ga. Steven Lee Carson died Friday, Aug. 19, 1994, at Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Fulton County, Deca- tur, Ga.
Born in Kennesaw, he was the 13-months-old son of Evodio Herrera and Teresa A. Carson. Survivors besides his parents of Chamblee, include a brother, Gragorio H. Carson of the home; and his maternal grandparents, Wilford G. and Patricia G.
Carson, both of Sumter. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father William McSweeney O.M.I. officiating.
Burial will be in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 6 tonight in the chapel of ElmoreHill-McCreight Funeral Home, and the family will receive friends until 8 p.m. at the funeral home KEITH GEDAMKE The ITEM the class list today at Wilder "We want this facility to look on June 30 just as it looks today. We know you can do it," Acting Superintendent Omega Hilton told the students. "The school itself, though, represents very little.
You are the main ingredients," Hilton said. "We have set expectations high for you. We have been looked at as not being maybe what we should be. That is the Clarendon School District 1, which includes Scott's Branch, is primarily poor, rural and black. The district has consistently had some of the lowest test scores in the state.
Because of those low scores, in November, the state Department of Education announced it was intervening in Clarendon 1 forming a partnership with district officials in managing the district. School Board Trustee William Parker told the students he expects things to change this year. "We are asking the students to show the state of South Carolina that you appreciate what your parents have done for you," Parker said. "We expect a lot of things from you, on your report cards and on the test scores. "At one time we had all kinds of excuses," Parker continued.
"We didn't have this and we didn't have that. There are no excuses anymore. This school has everything you need." The students agree that the new facility has it all. "It's a nice facility to work in," said senior Rufus Parson, who is captain of the Eagles football team. "It's comfortable and has all the technology we need." Parson said the library was his favorite part of the school.
"It's cozy," he said. "You can go there and get focused on learning or reading a book." "I know (the new building) will lift student morale," teacher Moses Levy said. "It's a good motivator and offers encouragement to our young people. "It's really a well-dressed facility. The students will treat it that way both socially and academically." Item staff writers Ellen Liburt and Amy Kierzek contributed to this report.
and other times at 2970 Ithica Drive. Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ELIJAH A. BENENHALEY DALZELL Elijah A. "Skippy" Benenhaley, 44, died Saturday, Aug.
20, 1994, at Dorn Veterans Hospital in Columbia. Born in Sumter, he was a son of Elijah D. Benenhaley and the late Ernestine B. Benenhaley. Mr.
Benenhaley was a member of Springbank Baptist Church. He was a graduate of Hillerest High School, a member of the Eastover Coon Ridge Hunting Club and a former aircraft painter. Mr. Benenhaley was an Army Vietnam veteran. Survivors along with his father of Dalzell include a daughter, Erin Benenhaley of Sumter; a sister, Jackie B.
Beauchamp of Sumter; a granddaughter, two nephews, a niece, and several aunts and uncles. Services will be held at 4 p.m. today at Springbank Baptist Church with the Rev. Kevin Smith officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, Pallbearers will be Steve Baker, Jody Beauchamp, Larry Hood, Jimmy Lowery, Keith McMickell and Ken Ray.
The family will receive friends at the home. Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. WILLIAM DuBOSE William DuBose, 91, widower of Martha Carr DuBose, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 1994, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Sumter County, he was a son of the late William Robert and Tallulah Bradford DuBose.
Mr. DuBose was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Sumter Kiwanis Club. He attended the public schools of Sumter County and was a retired farmer. Survivors include three daughters, Irene McEntire of Columbia, Frankie Mahoney of Camden and Jayne Fort of Sumter; a brother, Phillip S. DuBose of Sumter; three sisters, Louise Baker, Mamie Hensley and Doris D.
Luton, all of Sumter; 10, grandchildren; and 10 great Graveside services were held at 2 today in the Sumter Cemetery with Dr. Jerry Hammett and Dr. Cliff McLeod officiating. Memorials may be made to Solomon's Home, First Presbyterian Church or a charity of one's choice. The family will receive friends at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. William T. Fort 2730 Mohican Drive. Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements..
