The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 11

PAGE 11 Tuesday, April 7, 1987 The Index-Journal Following closed-door session CITYSTATE Abbeville birffle council persoimei temporary employee for the council office while Mary Gillespie is transferred to help outin the delinquent tax collector's office. Councilman Ed Crawford cast the only opposing vote. Council is to reconsider the move at the first meeting in November. Also by a 6-1 vote, council approved spending $2,730.50 to repair and improve interior staircases in the courthouse. Many accidents have occurred with people slipping on the stairs, Williams reported.

Crawford was opposed to the measure since only one bid was obtained for the work. Business conducted during the open portion of the meeting included a decision to spend approximately $52,770 for two dump trucks and one trailer. The trailer should cost around (10,000, Bill Nance reported, and each truck will cost about $21,385. Council voted to join the city of Abbeville and spend its share of $1,500 to widen the entrance road at the Pete Smith Complex off S.C. 28 The $750 will pay for half the cost of extending the width from a By MELISSA F1CKLIN Staff writer ABBEVILLE Half of Abbeville County Council's regular meeting Monday was spent behind closed doors in an illegal executive session according to stipulations of the Freedom of Information Act.

Chairman Frances Williams requested the executive session in order to discuss personnel and contractual matters which are legal under the FOI law. However, Williams refused to take a vote, which if favorable, would have made the session legal. Upon protest from the media, Williams referred news reporters to Robert's Rules of Order which she said only required her to have three members in agreement to proceed with such a closed-door meeting. It was not stated which three members agreed. Without further objection, the excutive session was held.

Decisions resulting from the executive session included a staffing change in the county council office. Council voted 6-1 to hire a 20-foot right of way to 22 feet. The road is soon to1 be re-surfaced, and the state Highway Department will reimburse the county for materials and the cost having the asphalt laid. Other labor is to be provided by the county. Council voted to issue a quit claim deed to the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers on property recently received from the state. The property is located on Road 269 just off S.C. 81 South of Calhoun Falls and totals about nine-tenths of a mile at the end of that road. The Corps intends to make improvements and build a parking lot there near the Richard B. Russell Dam.

No decision has been reached on funding a $12,500 request from the EMS, but council members are invited to attend a work session tonight with EMS personnel that should better familiarize coun-cilmembers with EMS work and needs. The $12,500 would1 fund half the cost of semi-automatic defibrillators for use by emergency medical technicians. The courthouse will close Friday, April 17 to observe Good Friday. Three charged in killings LEXINGTON (AP) A former topless dancer, her husband and her brother-in-law have been charged with killing and robbing two men who allegedly taunted the woman at a bar where she worked, officials said. Donna Michele Webb Torrence, 20, who worked at the Carriage House near Fort Jackson at the time of the killings, her husband, Thomas John Torrence, 28, and Torrence's brother, Michael Ryan Torrence, 25, each were charged Monday with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of murder in Lexington County.

Michael Torrence also was charged Sunday in the death of a former Columbia woman, Cynthia Williams, whose body was found on a roadside north of Charleston, said Lt. Larry Oliver of the Charleston County Police. Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said Monday that the Charleston County murder is unrelated to the other killings, but that Michael Torrence's arrest provided a break for investigators. A few hours after his arrest, authorities in Lexington County arrested Thomas and Donna Torrence. All three have been charged with the murders of Charles Alan Bush, 31, and his co-worker Dennis Lollis, 41, Metts said.

Bush and Lollis last were seen alive Feb. 11, when they were sharing a room at the Red Carpet Inn in Cayce. Both men were weaving-machine repairmen working temporarily at a textile mill in Columbia. Lollis' body was found in his motel bed Feb. 12, and authorities said he had been stabbed more than 20 times in his head and neck.

Bush was reported missing the same day, and Metts said authorities were led to his body early Monday morning. Lexington County Coroner Harry O. Harman said the body was found about 2 a.m. in a shallow grave in woods outside Pine Ridge. Bush, who had not been positively identified, apparently had been beaten to death, Metts said.

Bush lived with his wife in Spartanburg. Lollis lived in Honea Path (See Murder, page 17) Protesting students suspended CONWAY (AP) Socastee High School students who walked out of class to protest the dismissals of two coaches will be suspended, Principal Myra Reynolds says. From 200 to 300 students face suspension because of the walkout, which occurred Friday, Ms. Reynolds said Monday. The students will be suspended one day for each class they missed during the three-hour protest.

She said the disciplinary action is in keeping with school policy. Ms. Reynolds said she told the coaches why they were dismissed. "A conference was held with each of these gentlemen together with the athletic director. In fact, I have met with one of the gentlemen twice on this particular issue and specific reasons were delineated to them in detail," she said at a news conference at the Horry County Board of Education office in Conway.

"If they chose to share those reasons fine," Ms. Reynolds said, "but from our point of view it is not professionally ethical nor the best personal kind of thing to do, to air those kind of shortcomings." About 10 students walked out of a morning class to protest the dismissal of baseball Coach Jody Rush and wrestling Coach Jim Flowers. More students joined the group after the bell rang to change classes and for lunch. About 1,850 students attend the school. Ms.

Reynolds estimated that about 300 students took part in what she called a "stay out." All the students had returned to class by 1 p.m., when the last lunch period was over. The students said they wanted an explanation of why the coaches were fired. Both coaches will remain as teachers at the school, and Rush will finish out the present baseball season. Ms. Reynolds, who is in her first year at the school, has declined to comment on why the two will not be coaching next year at Socastee, which is about five miles west of Myrtle Beach.

Some of the students' parents Week of Young Child On behalf of the Greenwood area Associa- care of children, said President Roseann tioo of Child Care Professionals, Mayor Drew, right, and Judy Wessels, vice presi- John Nave signed a proclamation Monday dent. The week will be highlighted with a endorsing April 5-11 as the Week of the display of artwork from children of member Young Child in Greenwood. The local or- centers at Crosscreek Mall. (Staff photo by ganization seeks to promote the responsible Maura Couch) Saluda County first budget requests due for $800 ,000 'paring9 April 21 sheriff $37,430 last year, $45,910 requested; Monetta Rescue Squad $2,000 last year, $2,000 requested; rural fire protection $30,000 last year, $51,000 requested; law enforcement center $53,720 last year, $54,450 requested; Tri-County Department of Youth Services $5,324 last year, $6,175 requested; Emergency Preparedness $1,515 last year, $1,515 requested; Roads and Bridges $113,314 last year, $134,325 requested; Sanitation $98,618 last year, $98,618 requested; Veterans Affairs Office $3,500 last year, $3,450 requested; Trust and Agency $71,500 last year, $71,000 requested; Administration and Human Services $164,392 last year, $183,951 requested; non-departmental $292,489 last year, $308,746 requested; contingency $50,000 last year, $50,000 requested. of state funds, revenue sharing, bond money and gasoline tax.

He didn't list specific figures. The requests, as opposed to last year's expenses are: county council 10,172 last year, $13,550 requested next year; clerk of court $26,945 last year, $90,250 requested; magistrates $5,635 last year, $5,600 requested; probate judge $6,686 last year, $10,785 requested; master of equity $510 last year, $530 requested; coroner $3,636 last year, $3,636 requested; board of registration $11,418 last year, $11,920 requested; auditor $23,772 last year, $25,062 requested; tax assessor $10,725 last year, $12,575 requested; treasurer $17,909 last year, $16,805 requested; county attorneys $40,500 last year, $2,800 requested; public buildings $154,525 last year, $241,625 requested; By ROGER BURTON Area news editor SALUDA A budget showing requests for $2,237,951 received first reading by Saluda County Council Monday night, but is scheduled for a "paring" April 21. County Council Chairman Alfred Coleman told council that the county is losing approximately $500,000 in appropriations while at the same time budget requests from department heads have increased $300,000 over last year's operating expenses. "That's $800,000 we're talking about," said Coleman. "We need to get the department heads in here and talk about it.

We are going to have to cut. We can't stand these increases." Coleman said the reductions were coming from a loss have asked to meet with the Horry County School Board when it meets on April 15 to discuss the removal of the coaches. Injured youth listed -fair9 A juvenile injured Monday morning while attempting to hitch a ride on a train was reported in fair condition this morning at Self Memorial Hospital. The 14-year-old youth was one of three runaways from Connie Maxwell Children's Home who apparently attempted to hobo a ride out of town early Monday morning, according to police reports. The youth's feet were crushed when they slipped into a coupler between two box cars as the train was stopping.

Hospital spokesman Skip Wise said this morning that doctors still haven determined if an amputation will be necessary. Wise said the injured youth is scheduled to return to surgery Wednesday. PFC Dennis Smith of the Greenwood Police Department said both the youth's feet were crushed from the ankle down. ft latitat SRP fuel study is expanded COLUMBIA (AP) A National Academy of Sciences committee expanded its study of the Savannah River Plant and other federal nuclear facilities to consider the nation's need for continued production of fuel for nuclear weapons, a scientist on the committee told The State. Another committee member contacted by the newspaper said independent, outside oversight of the self-regulated Department of Energy plants is "essential" to ensure the safe manufacture of nuclear materials at U.S.

defense facilities. Energy Secretary John Herrington asked the NAS to examine safety and operations at DOE's 11 reactors after the Soviet Union's Chernobyl accident in April 1986. Herrington also asked that the department be informed immediately of any major problems found by the committee, which was meeting behind closed doors today in Washington. The 17-member committee includes experts in reactor safety, risk analysis and assessment, design engineering, emergency preparedness and management of large production reactors. Chairman Richard A.

Meserve told The State that the adequacy of emergency reactor-cooling systems and government estimates of damage during a nuclear accident have become the primary issues of study. Committee member Dr. Kai N. Lee said understanding those problems requires a broader knowledge of the need for producing materials that make up a nuclear bomb. "We are raising issues which lie well beyond any issues of science and technology per se," Lee said.

"They go to the question of whether the United States needs much more special nuclear material for its national security needs. And if so, how is that need to be met." Accreditation meeting He said neither foot was severed but the right foot had tant Principal Ray Frick at Monday's drop-in hosted by school staff and parents. Listening are SACS representatives Bill Jones, left, and Gail Jones. The evaluation is part of the accreditation process. (Staff photo by Maura Couch) Taking a break from the 10-year evaluation of scholastic programs now under way at Ninety Six Elementary School, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Chairman Ron West, right, talks with Principal Nancy Milner, second from left, and Assis severe lacerations.

He said names were being withheld due to the youths' ages- (See SRP, page 17).