Ehrhardt man rescued

Joyce M. Searson, Publisher

Percy Folk, 87, of the Ehrhardt community, was found safe within a mile from his home, around 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning after an extensive search-and-rescue effort by law enforcement, emergency personnel, family, friends and neighbors. The area where he was found was wooded with very thick underbrush which could have contributed to him being still being alive.

Shane Araneo of Walterboro was planning to deer hunt Saturday morning, but when he realized that Folk was still missing, he joined the search.

“I just walked up on him, he was just laying under the tree. It was a miracle that I found him,” said Araneo.

Sheriff Ed Darnell said that Folk wandered away from his Colston Road home near Ehrhardt about 2 p.m. Friday. The sheriff's office was contacted about an hour later and then SLED was notified.

"We notified SLED and they brought the tracking dogs and the helicopter. The search continued until midnight. The dogs could never pick up a good scent. Local people with their four-wheelers and flashlights were down there all night, doing what they could. It was a great community effort," said Darnell.

Darnell said the community just came together and did what ever they could do to help.

"We reorganized the search Saturday morning and continued on foot. I was really concerned because the temperature was just above freezing and the wind was really blowing hard Saturday night," he said.

When Folk was found his vitals were good. His body temperature was 91 degrees and he had scratches on his arms and knees. He was taken by ambulance to the Bamberg Hospital first and then to Orangeburg.

Dianne Mock, Folk’s daughter, said it was her faith in God that sustained her during the ordeal and she knew that her father was in God’s hands.

“Where he spent the night, it looked like God had prepared a fresh bed of straw in a small area. It was surrounded with trees covered in underbrush to protect him from the wind. He still had his cap on and his stomach was warm to the touch. Surely, the Lord placed angels around him to keep him warm and protect him,” she said.

Mock said there are so many people to thank. “We thank God first, all our family, friends, volunteers, fire and rescue squad personnel, SLED and their dogs, helicopter searchers, the Department of Natural Resources, police and sheriff departments, the Bamberg Hospital and Orangeburg Hospital, doctors and employees, prayer chains, various churches and members, anyone not listed here and God again.”

Sheriff Darnell said he liked happy endings such as this one. “I am glad that he was found safe.”

Red Raiders advance to second round of playoffs

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

The Class A Lower State Division 1 top seeded Bamberg- Ehrhardt Red Raiders (10-1) rallied from an 8-7 first quarter deficit to record a 40-14 win over a pesky number eight seed Estill Gators football team (4-7) in the first round of the Class A Playoffs at Leon Maxwell Stadium Friday night. The Red Raiders in defeating Region 5A foe Estill for the second time this season again rolled up over 300 yards of total offense (385) including 322 yards on the ground.

Bamberg-Ehrhardt head football coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby, whose teams have made the playoffs each year he has been head coach, noted after the game, that playing a team twice in the same season is “never easy” but it was a matter of getting the kids to put the first game behind them and focus on this game.

“That’s one of the things we try to stress is stay focus and forget about the game before,” Coach Crosby said. Adding “this is a new game-a new team and we just need to come out, play and execute what we do.”

The Red Raiders captured lightning in a bottle on the first play of the game when junior Maurice Duggan returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score at 11:45 of the first quarter.

The Gators would come back and take the lead at 8-7 to end the first quarter. In the second quarter B-E quarterback Sumner Cooler’s 25 yard run for a score, a 43 yard touchdown pass to Will Priester and a two point conversion to K.C. Crosby would give the Red Raiders a 21-8 halftime lead they would not give up.

Coach Crosby noted that the kickoff return by Duggan was “big” in helping to set the tone of the game against a Gator team that was “motivated” to give the Red Raiders their best shot.

In the second half touchdown runs of 85 and 18 yards by Demetrius Odom, who finished the night with 184 yards on 14 carries and a 26 yard touchdown run by Chip Wannamaker, who finished the night with 101 yards on 13 carries would give the team all the points they needed.

The Red Raider defense led by Clemson commitment Martin Aiken, who proved he didn’t need “the Shrine (Bowl) to shine” with three sacks, six tackles and caused a fumble.

The Red Raiders Maurice Duggan and Player Long also had interceptions in the game for the young Red Raider defense that “bent but did not break” facing a spread offense for the third week in a row.

Denmark-Olar Vikings

The eight seeded Denmark- Olar Vikings (4-7) had their season come to an end Friday night in the first round of the Class A Division II Playoffs as they fell to number one seed Cross 34-0. The Vikings were led on offense by senior Darin Washington with 144 yards on 18 carries. Defensive leaders for D-O were: Lawrence Dowling with 11 tackles, Ulysses Gissentaner 12, Shaquille Odom 10, Robert Coleman 9, 1 sack and a blocked field goal and Darin Washington added seven tackles.

Arrested on Numerous Charges

Two Lexington County men have been arrested and charged with a series of crimes in Bamberg County. Stephen James Craft II, 33 of Fish Hatchery Road, Lexington and Jody James Williamson 32 of 112 Vonta Lane, Gaston have been charged with six counts of receiving stolen goods, breaking into a tank and larceny. Williamson has also been charged with possession of Methamphetamine and possession of burglary tools. Both men are being detained in the Bamberg County Detention Center. Bond on Stephen James Craft II has been set at $40,000 and bond on Jody James Williamson has been set at $92, 500. Both men are also wanted in Lexington County and Orangeburg County.

Shrine Bowl Selection

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School senior lineman David Deleon (6-0,270) has been selected to play in the prestigious 2011 South Carolina vs. North Carolina Shrine Bowl Game. Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School head football coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby said the recognition Deleon received was well deserved.

“We’re proud of David (Deleon) making the Shrine Bowl,” Crosby said. “We’re always hoping to get one of our kids to play in one of those all star games. He’s well deserving of it, he’s done well this year offensively and defensively.” Coach Crosby noted that in getting Deleon, the Shrine Bowl coaches are getting an offensive as well as defensive player. “They chose him as a defensive lineman, but he’s a hybrid. I’m just proud of him and congratulations to him and his family.”

Deleon, a Miami of Ohio verbal commitment, who recorded 12 tackles in B-E’s Friday night’s first round playoff win over Estill and who has recorded 50 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and caused two fumbles so far this season, said he was surprised to say the least at his selection.

“I did not really think I was going to get picked for the Shrine Bowl,” Deleon said . I read in the newspaper where the Calhoun County Coach (Walter Wilson) said I showed out on film. I try my hardest everyday at practice and during the game. I’m happy to be selected,” Deleon said.

The game kicks off at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford University, Spartanburg, SC.

Other Region 5-A players selected to play in this year’s Shrine Bowl are Ronnie Geohaghan, defensive back from Allendale-Fairfax and Wesley Scott, defensive lineman from Ridgeland. Calhoun County defensive lineman Javonte Brown was also selected to play in the game.