Helping Greenwood grow

Partnership Alliance interim CEO looks
to attract retail, industrial businesses

July 11, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Have you ever been shopping in Greenwood and found yourself wishing a certain store at which you like to shop in another city was available locally?
Perhaps you were looking for a moderately obscure DVD that would be readily available at a store such as Best Buy or Circuit City but falls outside of Wal-Mart’s broad sensibilities. Or maybe you were searching for a particular ladies’ clothing item that could only be found at a more upscale clothier.
Greenwood’s Partnership for a Greater Greenwood County and Economic Alliance wants to do something about that. Partnership Alliance and interim CEO John Lowery announced Tuesday they will soon begin an aggressive program to recruit retail businesses to the area.
“We are going to step up our efforts in attracting retail outfits to our area,” Lowery said. “The primary reason for that is to attract industrial businesses to Greenwood.”
Lowery said industries look closely at the culture of a given area before they choose to open manufacturing facilities there. He said employees of the respective industries want to know there wil be attractive stores and restaurants in any town where a facility might be established.
“Companies simply look at the kind of shopping that is available as a measure of sophistication in a community,” Lowery said. “We have many franchises here, but we are still lacking. We lack in terms of a mall, and many ladies in the community will tell you we have a severe lack of upscale clothing retailers for women.”
Lowery noted an increase in retail stores will not only attract new industries but also more people from surrounding towns for which Greenwood is the main shopping destination. Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson said he is glad the alliance is setting out to recruit such businesses.
“I am glad to see we are going to push hard for more retail outlets in Greenwood,” Nicholson said. “I have gotten a lot of input from people, particularly ladies, who say there aren’t enough places to shop here. Also, it will go a long way toward attracting those people from surrounding counties that are heading off to Greenville, Augusta and Columbia.”
Lowery admitted Greenville is a city where many people from Greenwood County will travel to for shopping, dining and entertainment. He said it is a gap Partnership is looking to close.
He noted Partnership Alliance has prepared CD-ROMs and other promotional materials that implore business developers to take a closer look at Greenwood and the surrounding areas. He said he thinks many developers would be surprised to find a strong base of professionals in the local area, as well as college students and upwardly mobile families.
Lowery said there are important consultants Partnership Alliance wants to hear from before it decides what type of retail venues to pursue for Greenwood: local residents.
The director or marketing and interim CEO said Partnership will soon set up a tool for residents to submit ideas for the types of stores and restaurants they would like to see in Greenwood. He said when the tool is completed, residents will likely be directed to e-mail the suggestions to Partnership Alliance or visit a link on the organization’s Web site.

Abbeville man makes guilty plea

July 11, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — An Abbeville man charged with felony DUI in March after his vehicle struck a 12-year-old girl on Highway 72 entered a guilty plea Tuesday in general sessions court to a charge of first offense DUI.
Following the plea, Ronald Wharton, 42, was sentenced to time already served — about 40 days in jail, according to his attorney, Billy Nicholson.
The incident, which took place near O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and the Cherokee Trail service station, occurred on March 16. After being struck by the vehicle, Aliyah Enwright was airlifted to a Greenville hospital with numerous injuries. Several witnesses who stopped to help said the girl’s shoes were knocked off her feet by the force of the impact.
However, Eighth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Jerry W. Peace said Tuesday evening that a report completed on the incident by a S.C. Highway Patrol Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team did not provide evidence sufficient enough to support a charge of felony DUI.
“The report indicated that (Wharton) was driving the speed limit and was in his lane when the little girl jumped out in front of him,” Peace said. “From the information on the report, it was totally unavoidable. We didn’t feel that we had what we need to prosecute a charge of felony DUI.”
The case was prosecuted by assistant solicitor Ben Shealy.
According to statements made in court Tuesday, Wharton — who admitted to police to having been drinking on the night in question — was recorded as having blown a .20 on a breathalyzer, and that a blood test had Wharton with a blood-alcohol level of .16 that night. The legal limit in South Carolina is .08.
Wharton’s attorney said the first offense charge was accurate.
“I think that was the appropriate charge and I am pleased with the outcome,” Nicholson said. “The report couldn’t point to there being anything wrong with his driving as far as his having been speeding or swerving or anything like that. That doesn’t mean that he was not driving under the influence, but that was not the cause of the little girl’s injuries.”
A relative said Enwright suffered two dislocated knee caps, a badly sprained ankle, a broken bone in her left elbow and abrasions on her arms and forehead as a result of the incident.
Relatives also claimed early on that Wharton was driving without his headlights on.
Peace said Wharton will be required to utilize a new device when driving that will only allow the vehicle to start once the driver has provided proof of sobriety by first blowing on the device, which is installed inside.

Obituaries

Bessie Adams Baylor

Bessie Adams Baylor, 77, of 649 McLees Ave., widow of T.L. Baylor, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at her home.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Brenda B. Holloway, 802 Anderson St.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Charles F. Cogdill

Services for Charles Frank Cogdill will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Durst Avenue Church of God, with Bishop Aaron Hodges officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Thomas Crabtree, Chris Bowie, Carl Garron, Michael Crabtree, Tom Ellerbee, Wesley Morris, Ronney Padgett and Wayne Erskine.
Honorary escort will be Robert Stewart, Billy Stewart, Tim Brown, Bubba Cothran and Dustin Crabtree.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. The body will be placed in church at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
The family is at the home, 307 Lowell Ave.
Mr. Cogdill, 79, of 307 Lowell Ave., husband of Magdeline Stewart Cogdill, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Edward and Sadie Edwards Cogdill. He was retired from Greenwood Mills, Plant No. 4, where he was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He attended Durst Avenue Church of God.
Surviving is his wife of 52 years of the home; two daughters, Diane Long and Carleen Crabtree, both of Greenwood; two sons, Allen Cogdill of Waterloo and Lonnie Cogdill of Greenwood; three sisters, Marion Cothran and Betty Stewart, both of Greenwood and Cecil Leopard of Athens, GA; a brother, Ray Cogdill of Greenwood; ten grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be sent to the Cogdill family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

John Albert Freeman

PLUM BRANCH — Mr. John Albert Freeman, husband of Mrs. Beatrice C. Freeman, died at Hospice Care of the Piedmont July 8, 2007. Mr. Freeman was born in Plum Branch, SC, on Aug. 18, 1938, a son of the late Jasper R. and Mozell Wiggleton Freeman. He was a member of Pine Grove A.M.E Church, served on the Trustee Board and was a member of the Sunday School. He was a retired employee of Monsanto Textiles and was also a former employee of Criders Inc. of Lincolnton, Ga. Survivors are his wife of the home; one daughter, Mrs. Dana F. (Marcus) Kline of Upper Marlboro, MD; three sons, Barry (Barbara) Briggs of Fayetteville, NC, Delbert Stacy (Deadra) Freeman of Atlanta, GA, and Damon (Robin) Freeman of Charlotte, NC; one brother, Buineas (Earline) Freeman of Cerritos, CA; two sisters, Ms. Linda Hopkins of Baltimore, MD, and Mrs.
Evelyn (Larry) Quarles of Simpsonville, SC; eight grandchildren; three aunts, Ms. Anne Freeman of New York, Ms. Claudia Robertson of Mechanicsville, VA, and Ms. Susie Harris of Baltimore, MD; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Services are Friday at 2 p.m. at Pine Grove AME Church, with the pastor, Rev. W.O. Vance, and Rev. J.J. Robinson officiating. Interment is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Friday.
The family is at his home at 160 Pine Grove Church Road in Plum Branch, SC.
Services entrusted to Walker Funeral Home.

Odell Jackson

TROY — Odell Jackson, 86, resident of Troy, SC, husband of Izetta Holmes Jackson, died on July 8, 2007 at his home. Born in Edgefield, SC, on Jan. 2, 1921, he was the son of the late Willie and Minnie Gray Jackson. He attended the public schools of Edgefield County.
Mr. Jackson worked as a farmer, on the railroad, as a pulpwood worker and at Chalmers Plant of Greenwood Mills. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, serving in various capacities such as past Chairman of the Deacon Ministry, President of the Senior Choir and past Sunday School Treasurer. He served faithfully as a deacon for 36 years. He was a member of the Greenwood County Education Association, retired; Past Worshipful Master of Moore’s Lodge No. 68; Worthy Joshua of Queen Victoria Court No. 8; Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department and an affiliate member of Old Field Bethel AME Church.
Odell leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife, Izetta Holmes Jackson; 3 daughters, Alberta (Ulysses) Freeman, Nellie (Willie Haywood) Bussey, Ozell (Michael D.) Richardson; fifteen grandchildren, Gwen (Ricky) Chiles, Clayton (Jonetta) Dorn, Terence (Francine) Freeman, Tonjua and Tamiya Freeman, Eric and Daniel Bussey, JacQueline and Michael David (Shalena) Richardson, Krystal (Germaine) Williams; twelve great-grandchildren, Darius Chiles, Franchon’ Simpson, Terencia Gaskin, Aurielle Freeman, Lauren and Laurel Dorn, Kristyn, Collin and Kamryn Williams, Makayla, Michael David II and Jordan Richardson; a brother Felix Jackson of Edgefield, SC; 3 sisters, Ella Anderson of Washington, DC, Lizzie Dobey of Trenton, SC, and Ruby Nixon of Columbia, SC; a loving goddaughter Jacqueline Williams; a devoted cousin Mary P. Williams; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services will be held on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at noon at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. James E. Dukes officiating, assisted by Rev. Willie Patten, Jr., Rev. Jack Whitted, Rev. Lavern Witherspoon, Rev. Dr. Ruth Whitted, and Rev. Paul Wharton.
Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10.
Pallbearers will be Moore’s Masonic Lodge No. 68. Flower bearers will be Heroines of Jericho and Star of Hope O.E.S. Chapter No. 68. Online condolences may be sent to pertompfh1@earthlink.net. The family will receive friends at the home, 9522 Hwy. 25 S., Troy, SC. Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Jackson family.

Valerie Patterson

Valerie Patterson, 49, of Wisewood Apartments, No. 5, died Monday, July 9, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Richard Ross Jr.

CAMP SPRINGS, Md. — Richard Ross Jr., 34, died Thursday, July 5, 2007 at his home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, S.C., is in charge.

CORRECTIONS

On the Deaths and Funeral List in Tuesday’s paper, the place of visitation for Bob Ousley was listed incorrectly. The family will also receive friends 10:30-11 a.m. today at Blyth Funeral Home. The service is at 11. The Index-Journal regrets the error.
For the obituary of Ada Goodman in Tuesday’s paper, there was an error in the information submitted to The Index-Journal. Her mother was the late Louvenia Carter Coleman.

Opinion

Americans most generous people in all of the world

July 11, 2007

Americans are different than any other people in the world.
The people of this nation represent every nationality and ethnic group on the planet, but in the final analysis they are Americans. They prove it in many ways, of course, but in one way they establish their credentials as the most caring people on earth. They give more to charitable causes than anyone.
Last year Americans - including South Carolinians - gave almost $300 billion to various charities. That set a new record and topped the total given in 2005, which was boosted by aid given to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the tsunami that hit Asia.

“IT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT American culture that is unlike any other country,” said Claire Gaudiani, a professor at New York University’s Herman Center for Philanthropy and author of “The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism.” She puts it in perspective, noting that the willingness of Americans to give cuts across income levels, and their investments go to developing ideas, inventions and people to the benefit of the overall economy.
She also noted that Americans give more than twice as much as the next most charitable country, which was Great Britain. That’s not surprising, or shouldn’t be. It may interest some to know, though, that the charitable giving by France trailed such countries as South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and Germany.

THE NATIONS THAT ARE ABSENT from the list should tell the world something, too.
There’s something else that ought to get attention as well. While “rich” Americans are constantly belittled by some - usually politicians - one example - one of many
- helps discredit critics who keep repeating that litany. Multi-billionaire Warren Buffett announced that he would give $30 billion over 20 years to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. That foundation and its namesakes give so much to help people the numbers are staggering.
It might be noted, too, that local charities, through the United Way and other people-oriented organizations, are backbones of this community and every community in which they exist. And what are those organizations? They are people ..... people who give so that others may benefit.
One of the most important factors in it all, though, is that neither Democrat or Republican appears after any of the names. That, too, ought to tell us something.