The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 2

A Greenwood, Lakelands SC October 16, 2003 i High-tech tracking devices to help local law enforcement mark wrecks 4 i K. 4 By SHAVONNE POTTS Index-Journal staff writer' a My. i A I Beginning next month, law enforcement agencies in Greenwood and the Lakelands will find it easier to pinpoint the coordinates when investigating an accident scene with the help of satellite technology. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a handheld device no larger than many mobile phones. It lists coordinates much like a compass, but also contains local maps of streets and roads.

The GPS was first developed for use by the military. It is also used to help navigate on ships and planes. It can be used for vehicle tracking and to aid public safety officials who are responding to collisions. "Each accident has to have the latitude and longitude for the collision report," said Highway Patrol spokesman Lance Cpl. Steve Sluder.

He said the GPS is accurate up to 10 feet, but that it is more accurate than the system troopers ased to use. Before, troopers would stand where the accident occurred and estimate where the accident began and ended by walking from the starting point to the endpoint. Now, with the push of a button, the guesswork is eliminated. In the past, highway patrol only used the GPS to mark DUI accidents, and a supervisor would make the notations. In November; GPS will be used to mark all accidents.

The four-hour training began Wednesday with the Highway Patrol teaching other Greenwood law enforcement agencies how to use the Global Positioning System. Above: Highway Patrol spokesman Lance CpL Steve Sluder demonstrates how easily the Global Positioning System, a new satellite technology used by the military, can be used to check the coordinates of an accident scene. As soon as November, the Highway Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies will be equipped with the system. Right: Sluder holds the Global Positioning System. Staff photos by Shavonne Potts c-9 k'M Thafs a lot of pies! minutes using a compact disc, Sluder said.

"You can buy upgrade CDs to load new maps when new roads have been built," he With this new technology, law enforcement agencies will be able to determine precisely where accidents occur and assign manpower accordingly. Each degree of latitude and longitude is divided into minutes and seconds. This allows the assignment of a precise numerical location to any place on earth. Troopers will use a model called the Garmin eTrex Legend that gives coordinates in degrees, minutes, seconds and tenths of seconds. Updated maps are downloaded within three Jamey Manley, left, and Jimmy Bell lead the way Wednesday as a 390-pound pumpkin is carried to the front steps of the Greenwood Country Club for display.

The pumpkin took second-place honors in this year's state fair, and is the work of Dr. Giles Schanen of Greenwood. Schanen's pumpkins took top honors in the three previous state fairs. Staff photo by Wallace McBride is- InS VI r. Abbeville County increases city's waste disposal fee I "Some businesses like McDonald's might request to have their garbage picked up five days a week and some businesses only need it to be picked up one day a week," Wiggins said.

I will J(dd $14,000 to. the, 2004. fiscal, year budget for landfill charges. "We went ahead and included that in the budget and it will take effect Nov. 1," Wiggins said.

The budget includes a revised collection fee to cover the new charges from the county. The county is also in its final stages of its new Construction, Demolition and Land-clearing Debris Landfill. The anticipated opening is scheduled for Nov. 3. Shavonne Potts covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands.

She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3306, or: spottsindexjournal.com. WEDNESDAY'S LOTTERY NUMBERS Staff photo by Shavonne Potts Any time's a good time to play McKenna Bishop, 3, left, and older sister time after school at a restaurant's play cen-Ryland, 8, of Greenwood, get in some play- ter along the 72 Bypass. Wanted: Environmentally conscious senior citizens McCormick school board to evaluate superintendent By MISTY EBEL Index-Journal staff writer Mccormick The school board has called a special closed meeting 6:30 tonight at the district office for the purpose of evaluating the superintendent, Lloyd Hunter. Boards cannot take action during a closed session, but can return to open session to take action.

The board has met previously on the superintendent evaluation but has not completed the process, board member Eddie Talbert said. "This one is taking longer because we had some more issues," Talbert said. The board has involved its attorneys in the process, he said. "Some of the issues that we needed to address concerning the state of the district and regarding the superintendent, we felt we need our attorneys' input," he said. The district office is at 821 N.

Mine St. Greenwood man faces charges in shooting death From staff reports Greenwood Sheriff's deputies charged a Greenwood man Monday in connection with a July shooting death. Prentice Lavon Floyd, 22, of 210 Sullivan St. was charged with murder and accessory after the fact. Contorius Andre Miller, 26, of 227 Old Laurens Road, Greenwood, was shot in the back of the head and later died.

"He (Floyd) was brought in Mondav as another individual charged in connection with the homicide," Greenwood Sheriff Sam Riley said. In July, Greenwood resident Lengtigus Kenta Floyd, 25, of 210 Sullivan St. was charged with murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime in connection with Miller's shooting. Lentigus was denied bond during a Wednesday hearing, said Greenwood Solicitor Townes Jones. Story ideas or suggestions? Call us at 223-1812 By SHAVONNE eOTTS Index-Journal staff writer ABBEVILLE The county's decision to increase its landfill fees will cost the city an extra $5 per ton for waste "We got a from the county about two weeks ago that they were going up in commercial waste disposal $5 a ton," said Assistant City Manager Nolan Wiggins.

The city already pays $35 per ton for commercial waste. The increase comes because the company that disposes the waste increased its prices and so the city needs to increase its prices, he said. Wiggins said the bulk of the city's commercial landfill disposal comes from the green dumpsters at businesses. The businesses pay different rates, depending on the number of days they request garbage collection. leaks from cars, fertilizer, insecticides and other chemicals off lawns, he said.

"Non-point source pollution resulting from urban runoff is recognized as a primary source of water quality problems. "Such types of pollution in conjunction with point source forms have resulted in water quality decline and the emergence of algae blooms that we see in Lake Greenwood today," he said. Lanford said more volunteers are needed. Retirees from fields related to the environment are of particular interest. The volunteers largely will be responsible for the project with USCOG and DHEC playing only liaison roles.

"They are going to be in charge with generating resources," Lanford said. "Once we have a group that is actively interested in carrying the project forward, it will be in their hands." The project can begin in Greenwood and expand to other parts of the Upper Savannah region, he said. This SEC group is affiliated with the national nonprofit organization the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI), which identifies funding resources and can offer technical assistance. The group must conduct one signature project every year to be a member of EASI. For information, call Lanford at 941-8075.

til "Some are technical in nature and some aren't. The one that we have set up here is not technical in nature. Anybody is welcome." Why target senior "Senior citizens are an untapped resource," said Lanford, a recent Clemson graduate. "Retired seniors generally volunteer more than working citizens and younger groups, and their experience, knowledge and expertise often remains underutilized. "Couple that with a sincere desire to have a lasting effect on their environment and you have a great resource," he said.

"I would love to see something get started in this area and in this state," said Vivian Dampier of Greenwood, who has attended the SEC's planning meetings. "I am very interested in the environment." Lanford has conducted planning meetings with DHEC officials and a small group of seniors. One of the results of the meetings was identifying a project that targets storm water or urban runoff pollution. "We want to teach the public about storm water runoff behavior," Lanford said. "We want to let them know that the water that goes into the storm drains that they see on the street isn't treated before, it enters the water bodies that they use for drinking water, etc.

"Whatever enters that drain goes into the tributaries that feed area creeks and eventually 4 S.C. GEORGIA Pick 3: 8-2-7 Cash 3: 9-4-3 Pick 4: 5-5-8-3 Cash 4: 4-5-2-1 NIGHT NIGHT Pick 3: 6-0-8 Change Game: Pick 4: 1-6-5-2 J-1-4-9-3-E Powerball: X-4-6-3-4-K 6-9-29-39-52 K-6-3-2-3-Z Power Ball: 8 Cash 3: 3-2-6 Multiplier: 5 VIRGINIA DAY FLQRIOA Pick 3: 0-4-7 Cash 3: 4-1 -8 Pick 4: 4-6-3-3 Play 4: 1-2-1-6 Cash 5: 1-7-8-14-20. LATE NUMBERS FROM TUESDAY FLORIDA 18-19-21-33-40 Mega Money Mega Ball 29 2-12-23-17 Mega Ball: 6 VIRGINIA Fantasy 5 NIGHT 4- 14-30-15-11 Pick 3: 6-6-7 GEORGIA Pick 9-3-6-9 NIGHT Cash 5: Cash 4: 4-3-9-6 8-20-23-27-31 Fantasy 5 Mega Millions: 5- 16-22-31-38 18-19-21-33-40 Mega Millions Mega Ball: 29. Lake Greenwood. You want to teach people about certain behaviors that adversely affect water quality." According to DHEC's Bureau of Water, runoff pollution isn't just found on mismanaged farms or draining off construction sites.

It's also part of the everyday urban landscape. Through many South Carolinians generally agree that activities on land affect water quality, they are less knowledgeable about specific actions that might have an impact on water quality, a DHEC survey showed. Over-fertilized lawns, pet waste left on streets and sidewalks, carelessly discarded home and garden products, or leaking motor oil all add to contaminants that wash into creeks and streams each time it rains. To help educate residents of Greenwood and the Lakelands, the group has discussed conducting a storm drain-tagging project, which involves placing plastic tags on or stenciling storm drains to warn of the potential hazards and increase community awareness. The project would also involve an educational outreach program including, material explaining the project and presentations to schoolchildren in the region.

Urban runoff has the same affect on Greenwood's water bodies. "Water washing down the street picks up gas and oil that Senior citizens of Greenwood and the Lakelands have an opportunity to educate fellow residents about the adverse affects of runoff pollution, thanks to a pilot project that could become a model statewide. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has awarded a grant to create a senior volunr teer group that works with inter-generational programs to help the environment. The Upper Savannah Council of Governments (USCOG) has had meetings to discuss creation of a Senior Environmental Corps (SEC) to represent the Upper Savannah region of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick and Saluda counties Similar senior environmental groups have been successful throughout the country, but none have been created in South Carolina.

'They (DHEC) decided that it might be a good idea to form a Senior Environmental Corps here, and whatever we accomplished would then be used as a model in other parts of the state," said USCOG planner Blake Lanford. Nationwide, senior groups have targeted water quality, air quality, noise pollution, energy conservation, recycling and forestry. 'There are hundreds of Senior Environmental Corps groups all over the country," Lanford said. CALL US On Ssturdayt ind Sunday, tsla-I phoned report of misting papam ant recorded and monitored from 7 until 1 p.m. Please.call 223-1411, Advertising 223-1411 CteMlfled 223-141! HW 223-1811 Accent 223-1811 Business office 223-1411 Have 1 story or photo Cafl 223-1812.