The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 28

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1996 THE GREENVILLE NEWS 5D Nielsen lobbying for full-day kindergarten funds By Mona Breckenridge ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBIA When a House member debating the merits of full-day kindergarten called the proposal "glorified $55 million day care" last week, state Education Superintendent Barbara Nielsen knew her message wasn't getting through. "This is not just day care, This is a structured learning environment," Nielsen said Tuesday, Her focus now shifts to Senate budget writers whose leader supports adding money for full-day kindergarten. "It's all about making choices," Nielsen said. kindergarten is something we desperately Statewide all-day kindergarten was one of the more expensive items she requested in her 1996-97 budget, Full funding would cost about $61 million. An amendment by Democratic leaders to the House Ways and Means Committee budget would have dedicated $55 million to start the statewide program.

That was rejected by the House on a 65-51 vote. During last week's debate, Republicans repeatedly labeled the all-day program unproven and said mothers don't want their children involved. Nielsen, also a Republican, stopped short of criticizing GOP House members but said she was counting on the Democrat-controlled Senate to restore the money, Senate Finance Chairman John Drummond, D-Ninety Six, expects his committee to put full-day kindergarten into the budget bill. And As Nashville's stature in show biz grew, SO did Minnie Pearl's Country comedian dead at age of 83 By Robert K. Oermann GANNETT NEWS SERVICE When Minnie Pearl joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1940 she was the show's only female cast member.

Or as she later put it, "the first woman to scramble with my fingernails up the side of a wall to try to get some recognition in a man's world." She was the one star whose popularity never dimmed throughout Nashville's subsequent rise from medium-sized Southern poultryand-publishing center to international show-biz mecca. She did it with kindness. She did it with a smile. She did it with enormous grace and immense heart. She made us laugh.

Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, 83, known professionally as Minnie Pearl and as the most applauded comic in the history of country music, died Monday at Columbia Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. Minnie-Sarah, who had been out of the public eye since suffering a stroke in 1991, had been hospitalized since Feb. 25. Minnie's humor centered around tales of her friends, neighbors and relations in the mythical Grinder's Switch, Tenn. There actually was such a location, a whistle stop near her hometown of Centerville, Tenn.

Sarah-Minnie was the daughter of a well-to-do sawmill owner in Centerville. Born in 1912, she was the youngest of the five Colley daughters. All were well-educated, but when it came time for the playacting baby of the family to go to school the Depression had wiped out the family's finances. There was just enough money to send Minnie to the Ward-Belmont ladies' finishing school for two years. She graduated in 1932 with a yen for the stage, but the market for dancing, piano and drama teachers James E.

Powell, Greenville Lee James Edward Powell, 77, of 106 Stella died March 4, 1996, at St. Francis Hospital. Born in Transylvania County, N.C., he was a son of the late Waverly and Mamie Peahuff Powell. He was a member of Marietta First Baptist Church and retired from Dan River Floor Coverings. Surviving are his wife, Bessie Ellenburg Powell of the home; three sons, Clayton Powell of Spartanburg, Alvin Powell of Greenville and Terry Powell of Greer; a brother, Albert Powell of Travelers Rest; and two grandchildren, Allison Powell and Terry Powell.

Graveside services: 1 p.m. Wednesday in Grand View Memorial Gardens conducted by the Rev. John Everhart. Pallbearers will be Don Powell, Dennis Powell, Bill Southerlin and Dan Cantrell. The Howze Mortuary, Travelers Rest.

Lillie Mae Redden, Gray Court Lillie Mae Ross Redden, 72, of Route 2, Highway 101, died March 4, 1996, at her home. She was a retired battery filler at Inman Mills in Enoree and a member of Durbin Creek Baptist Church. Surviving are a son, David Lathen of Gray Court; an adopted son, Jimmie Lee Vaughn of Gray Court; three daughters, Nancy Koon and Julie Ann Landin, both of Gray Court, and Frances Dees of Greenville; two sisters, Nannie with unanimous approval from the Senate Education Committee last week for all-day classes, Drummond said the matter probably will pass the full Senate. "If we couldn't fund it I'd like to look at why we have a 12th grade," he said. "I'd rather have it on the front The House did approve $10,000 for a study on whether full kindergarten is more suecessful than half-day classes.

"I think the data is there," Nielsen said, spreading out a half-dozen studies on the subject from various states. She called the Houseapproved study a "delaying Several lawmakers who opposed funding the program last week said they are not against full-day kindergarten; they just want more data on how it would work in South Carolina. Nielsen 1 said the program already is offered THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Dead at 83: Minnie Pearl, who died Monday in Nashville, appears as a guest on the Nashville Now cable TV show in this January 1990, file photo. Pearl, whose real name was Sarah Ophelia Cannon, had been a Grand Ole Opry performer since 1940 and spent 20 years on TV's 'Hee Haw' series. troupe.

Performing for servicemen in 1941-42, Minnie Pearl became a little more racy, a little less inhibited and a lot more fun. She was also in the right place at the right time. The Opry got a national NBC Radio network slot in 1940 and as the show's fame spread, so did hers. When the Opry went to television, so did she. As Nashville became the center of country music in the 1950s and 1960s, she became the industry's spokesman.

Minnie's graciousness and affection for her less-schooled hillbilly co- She was a teacher at Greenville SHARE Head Start. She was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Surviving are a son, Uriel Javarreya Smith of the home; her parents, Thomas Jr. and Anna Smith of the home; two brothers, Thomas E. Smith of New York, N.Y., and Chief Master Sgt.

Fred Norman Jr. of Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, and two sisters, Pamela N. Chapman and Armitt J. Norman, both of Greenville. Services: 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday at Watkins, Garrett Woods Mortuary with burial in Greenville Memorial Gardens. Inez VonBorstel, Spray, Ore. Jo Inez Tankersley VonBorstel, 70, of John Day Highway, died March 3, 1996, at St. Charles Medical Center. Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late Hezzie H.

and Lula Green Tankersley. She was a member of Gap Creek Baptist Church. Surviving are a daughter, Loretta Wright of Merritt Island, a son, Jon Berry Lebree of Spray, a brother, Herbert Tankersley of Marietta; and a granddaughter, Linda Ann Battes of Byron, Ga. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Gap Creek Baptist Church conducted by the Revs.

Steven Bell and Derrel R. Robinson. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Howze Mortuary, Travelers Rest. in about 75 percent of school districts here.

Most get federal money, but that's only to cover the costs for poorer students. In 1995, about 74 percent of the children in half-day kindergarten tested ready for first grade. That fell to about 69 percent for full-day students. But most full-day students come from poorer homes and generally score lower on standardized tests, she said. "A lot of these children we're talking about virtually have no home.

Mothers and fathers can't read and write," Drummond said. Nielsen also dismissed arguments that transportation and meals would cost more with full-day kindergarten. The buses have to run in the morning and afternoon anyway, and lunchroom costs would be absorbed mostly by federal funds, she said. NEWS IN Taylors woman charged with breach of trust A Taylors charged with more than cashed without Greenville law said. Beverly Paddie, 34, of Blind Tiger Road, Taylors, charged breach of trust more than 000, a warrant states.

A Greenville Police Department woman has been breach of trust after $24,000 in checks were permission from a firm, authorities Police Department investiga- Beverly Ann tion found that Paddie from June of 1993 until January of this year, a woman working as a paralegal at Harris and Graves Attorneys at Law wrote and negotiated checks for services that were never rendered and for invoices that were not owed, according to a KFC answers suit over bleach drink Kentucky Fried Chicken is willing to admit responsibility for damages a woman sustained when she drank a mixture of cleaning solution and water served by an employee, but would require proof of the extent of the injuries, according to an answer to a lawsuit. The answer says an employee of the Fairview Road restaurant in Simpsonville meant to pour a customer a drink from a container of ice water but accidentally used a container of cleaning solution and water. When Cindy Wallis tasted the mixture, she "immediately spit the contents out from her mouth," according to the answer. Cindy and Bill Wallis filed the lawsuit alleging that, on Dec. 19, they were given a cup of "pure bleach," which burned the lining of Mrs.

Wallis' throat. In its answer, the restaurant asks that the court and a jury determine what injuries Mrs. Wallis sustained award "reasonable" damages. "This is not just day care. This is a structured learning environment" EDUCATION SECRETARY BARBARA NIELSEN BRIEF Woodruff Road area hit by wave of break-ins in Centerville was tiny.

In 1934 she joined so the Sewell Co. and toured the South on its behalf organizing penny-ante amateur theatricals for local civic organizations. In the winter of 1936 she arrived in the mountains of northeastern Alabama to mount a production of "Flapper Grandmother." She boarded with a mountain lady and her family who delighted her with their rustic stories and folk expressions. "When I got to the next place, 1 got to tellin' people about this woman," Minnie later recalled. "By 1938 I was 'doing' her, but I hadn't named her.

So I just picked out two nice women's country names," Minnie and Pearl. A fellow Sewell thespian coached her in hillbilly dialect. An act began to take shape. By 1939 the Sewell road work was drying up. In early 1940 she limped back home to Centerville, a show-business failure.

She was 28 years old, single, jobless and broke. Minnie took work running a children's recreation center to support herself and her widowed mother. That November, she auditioned at Radio WSM for a guest spot on the Opry. The show's executives feared the country audience would think she was mocking them, so Minnie Pearl's debut was scheduled for 11:05 p.m. when many would have turned off their radios or left the auditorium.

Minnie did her hillbilly one-liners for about three minutes. After it was over, she asked her mother how she'd done. "Several people woke up," said Mama encouragingly. But nearly 300 pieces of mail arrived at WSM during the next week. She was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry cast at $10 a week and as its only female act.

"Just go out there and love 'em, honey, and they'll love you right back," Opry founder George D. Hay told her. And they did. During World War II, she shot to fame as a member of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys UPSTATE DEATHS Lee Brown of Woodruff and Frances Alexander of Fountain Inn; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services: 2 p.m.

Thursday at the Church of God of Prophecy in Gray Court with burial in Durbin Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Lanford Funeral Home in Woodruff. Stafford Scott, Greenwood William Stafford Scott, 82, of 1910 Montague Ave. Extension, died March 4, 1996, at Self Memorial Hospital.

He was a Merchant Marines veteran of World War II, a former employee of Greenwood Mills and former owner and operator of Stafford's Loom Maintenance Inc. He retired from Burlington Industries, Calhoun Falls plant. He was a member of North Side Baptist Church and was a Mason. Surviving are his wife, Sara McManus Scott of the home; a son, Donald Eric Scott of Aiken; two daughters, Janice S. Garr of Merritt Island, and Fran! S.

Odom of Simpsonville; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two great-stepgrandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Blyth Funeral Home Chapel, Greenwood, with burial in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Smith, Greenville Thomasena Anne Smith, of 19 Milton Drive, died March 1, 1996. Ann 45 45 is is with Greenville County deputies have been alerted to a string of burglaries and car break-ins near State 14 and Woodruff Road in the Holly Tree and River Walk subdivisions.

There was no forced entry in any of the cases the cars and homes were all left unlocked. A thief or thieves took stereo equipment, camera equipment, money and other valuables from the cars and homes Feb. 26 and 27, according to a crime analysis report. In two cases, burglars entered the homes through unlocked doors in garages. In four, they entered only the garage and also went inside vehicles.

The crimes happened between midnight and 5 a.m., according to the report. SRS gets permission to turn waste into glass stars made her the Opry's mother confessor and ambassador. She married pilot Henry Cannon in 1947, eventually moved into a home next to the Tennessee governor's mansion and became the country world's go-between to Nashville society. She was the star the others turned to for comfort. One memorable 1952 night the tormented Hank Williams cried on her shoulder, paraphrasing "I Saw the Light" by moaning, "Minnie, I don't see no light.

There ain't no light." AIKEN Savannah River Site officials have permission from U.S. Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary to begin turning radioactive liquid waste into glass. The nuclear weapons plant's vitrification facility cleared the last hurdle Friday when an Energy Department team gave its approval, Westinghouse Savannah River Company spokesman Chris Caldwell said. O'Leary gave her final approval Tuesday, the department said. Following next week's startup, the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) will immobilize liquid waste in a glass form for long-term storage.

Ten percent of the 34 million liquid gallons of waste currently stored at SRS will be turned into glass, poured into canisters and sealed. The canisters will be stored at SRS until they are shipped to a long-term storage facility still in the planning stages. Caldwell said the process will take about 25 years and cost about $4 billion. Embattled Horry schools chief resigns Smith, who spent almost four years as head of Misconduct charges dropped County's schools, was charged last year with duct in office. He allegedly rigged bids on a THE ASSOCIATED PRESS school district computers purchase and used his tion for financial gain by hiring his wife as the CONWAY Horry County schools Superintendent director of special education.

Gary Smith has resigned, and a prosecutor says crimi- On Friday, Smith wrote prosecutor Ralph nal charges against him will be dropped. citing poor health and saying he would resign. Smith's resignation was accepted by the county drop asked Wilson to the indictments, and Wilson he would do that. school board Monday night. The board's lawyers and Smith will work out Wilson is pursuing the same bid-rigging a resignation agreement by the against board Chairman Richard Heath.

No trial board's next regular meeting, March 18. has been set. Associate Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait was Heath has been suspended from office by Gov. made interim superintendent. Beasley, who also suspended Smith last year.

SLED chief: Agents didn't abuse suspect in Sumter deputy's death THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBIA The man accused of killing a Sumter County sheriff's deputy was not abused by State Law Enforcement Division agents during his arrest despite his lawyer's accusations, the agency's chief says. Chief Robert Stewart said Monday Bobby Wayne Stone "was armed with a pistol, would not comply to any commands, and (SLED agents) risked their lives to take him alive." His agents would have been justified in shooting to kill, Stewart said. "Defense attorneys ought to be thankful they have a living client to represent," Stewart said. Agents found Stone hiding under a fallen tree. Public defender Jim Babb says Horry miscon1993 posidistrict's Wilson, He said charges date David Stone was roughed up by SLED when agents arrested him hours after Deputy Charlie Kubala was shot to death.

Sumter County's chief public defender, Arthur Wilder, saw Stone the morning after the arrest and said the suspect had been beaten badly. A jail photograph of the 30-yearold suspect taken 17 hours after his arrest shows a large bruise on his right forehead and scratches on his face. A internal review of Stone's Feb. 26 arrest cleared the agents of any wrongdoing, Stewart said. Stone would not cooperate during the initial arrest or as he was being taken out of the woods, Stewart said.

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