Greenwood council won’t change lake ‘draw down’

April 6, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Greenwood County Council decided Tuesday that changes are not necessary in the “draw down” schedule for Lake Greenwood.
Lakeshore resident Roy Mendelsohn has been fighting for more than a year to adjust the schedule used by county government to make seasonal adjustments to the lake’s level.
The retired engineer wants the county to delay the regular September “draw down” of the lake until November, which he argues would extend the use of the lake for residents and tourists.
A federal licensing agreement outlines mandatory year-round levels of the lake, and local government officials expressed concerns that a change the lake schedule would result in additional federal mandates.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, County Manager Jim Kier read a letter from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that confirmed these fears.
“They’re saying we could be open to additional provisions if we did request an opening of that license agreement,” Kier said.
The letter also denies claims by Mendelsohn that other agencies involved in the licensing process — such as the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — were in support of changes to the lake’s rule curve.
No formal documentation has been filed with the commission in support of these changes, according to a letter signed by John E. Estep of the FERC division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance.
“I think the letter points out that … he’s misrepresented the facts to us,” said Councilman Dee Compton. “FERC has basically rebuffed what he said.”
Councilman Patrick Moody said he’s found little demand from lakeside residents for any change to the current lake schedule.
“I think what we’re doing is sufficient,” Moody said. “I don’t think we need to take any action.” Because of unexpected rainfall late last year, the county was able to maintain the lake at higher levels than usual without changes to the licensing agreement.
“The current rule curve does provide us with the flexibility that we need,” said Council Chairman Robbie Templeton. “We were all concerned what might come down the pipe if we decided to move it. I, for one, want to put this issue to rest.”
Water levels are varied as a means to protect local wildlife and as a support to a hydroelectric facility located on the lake.
During September each year, the lake is lowered by two feet, from an elevation of 439 feet to 437. That level is reduced again by two and a half feet in January.
Council also:
* Approved second reading on an ordinance changing the zoning for property on S.C. 72/U.S. 221 from RDD (Rural Development District) and R4 to PDD (Planned Development District.)
The property is the proposed location of a new gated community near Cothran’s Bridge on Lake Greenwood. A public hearing was conducted during Tuesday’s meeting to gather comments on the project.
Palmetto Crossing is planned as a 65-unit community of Charleston-style carriage houses, but there were concerns from two property owners of congestion that might be created by the development.
“It’s going to greatly increase the traffic that goes through there, both the vehicular traffic and boats on the lake,” said Beth Satterfield. “We believe the population increase would increase crime in the area.”
Developer Bill Gilbert said the lots will sell for between $450,000 and $700,000 each, and that it would create a $40 million increase to the county’s tax base when completed.
The Greenwood Metropolitan District also wants to place a pump station on the property to bring sewer services to the area.
Construction on the development is scheduled to begin this summer.
* Approved final reading of an ordinance changing the zoning of 204 N. Emerald Road from L1 (light industrial) and R5 (multi-family) to L1 in its entirety.
* Passed first reading of an ordinance amending the franchise agreement between the county and * Passed a resolution endorsing the expenditure of $50,000 for use in the creation of a new sewer project for Shrine Club Road/Reds Road. The county is pursuing a Community Development Block Grant to fund the project. If awarded, the grant would require the county to match a $450,000 grant with $50,000 in local funds.
* Accepted roads in the Harborside subdivision into the county road maintenance system.

Tigers find right mix

After recent struggles, Saluda enjoying success in boys soccer

April 6, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

SALUDA — The Saluda High School boys soccer team has used a melting pot to turn a struggling program into a winning one.
Fueled by an influx of young Hispanic players, mostly freshmen and sophomores, the Tigers have improved from a one-win season two years ago to grabbing nine wins at mid-season, including a 6-0 start in Region III-AA play.
“It’s really great for us, because last year we didn’t really win many games,” said junior midfielder Pablo Vallejo, a second-year starter for Saluda. “Everybody is really excited about winning. We’ve gotten a lot better as a team. We have a lot of different races on this team:
white, black and Hispanic. It really doesn’t matter for us because we all like the same sport.
“We love playing soccer.”
Vallejo, who moved from Mexico to Saluda more than five years ago, is one of 10 Hispanic players on Saluda’s 15-man roster, with seven of those players being freshmen and sophomores.
Those Hispanic players have accounted for 29 of the Tigers’ 44 goals, including a team-high 14 from freshman Javier Leyva-Jimenez.
Saluda native Michael Quattlebaum, a returning junior, is second on the team with 12 goals, while Vallejos and freshman Alberto Riviera have four and three goals, respectively.
“Our success is a result of a little bit of everything,” said senior goalkeeper Chris Able, who along with Bill Usury are the only two four-year players on the team.
“All of the different things are kind of clustered together. The Hispanic players have definitely lent a hand to it. But you do learn from losing. Personally, the last three years that we’ve lost have made me a better player today.”
Last season, Able and the rest of the Tigers endured a 4-7 season. But that was nothing compared to his sophomore year, when the team went 1-12 and were outscored 128-9 by its opposition.
“We’ve heard it for a long time,” Able said. “People would say ‘you’re on the soccer team. You all stink. You all never win.’ Now, people are asking us when our next game is and what our record is.
“We never really had a lot of attention paid to us. It’s still a little lacking, but it’s a lot more than it was.”
Tigers third-year coach Karl Geliske said he started taking notice of his team coming into its own this season after it shook off a tough 7-0 loss to Ben Lippen in a preseason tournament by winning five straight games, including three region wins.
The tremendous start has earned the team a No. 8 ranking in Class AA, and for the first time in recent memory, the Tigers are currently in a first-place share in the region standings with top-ranked Emerald.
The two teams haven’t met this season. Their first match was rained out. They are scheduled to meet for the first time at 5 p.m. April 14 at the Saluda Athletic Complex, with the rematch set for seven days later at Vikings Stadium.
But the success hasn’t come without it’s own amount of hardship. There’s the trouble of being the new kid in town, but what can make that matter worse is when the new kid, or in this case kids, as talented as they may be, come from another country and aren’t as familiar with the language.
“When I got here, I didn’t really know that they even played soccer here,” said Vallejo, who was an All-Region III-AA selection last season. “It was a big deal for me. When I saw people playing soccer here, it was really exciting for me.
“But it was a little bit difficult for me because of the language. Sometimes I couldn’t understand what coach was saying. So, he had to talk to me with signs and stuff. After a while, I got used to it.”
Like Vallejo, Leyva-Jimenez’s flow into American life has taken some getting used to after moving from Guanajuato, Mexico a little more than two years ago.
“At first, I was kind of nervous, because of the difference in the language and the culture and everything,” Leyva-Jimenez said, in Spanish and translated by Vallejo. “But I got used to it real quick. We are all friends. We are like a family.”
But the adapting isn’t only difficult for the Hispanic players. There has been a good amount of fitting in coming from the American players as well.
“Sometimes they’ll yell something across the field and some of us don’t know what it means,” the senior keeper said. “When they’re saying ‘cruz, cruz (cross, cross),’ a lot of people don’t know what to do.
“To get around it, we ask what it means. A lot of times we’ll ask during a break ‘how do you say this or that.’
And for all of the togetherness that happens with the players on the field, the success of the Tigers’ soccer program has added to the Saluda community as well.
“It’s helped to bring the Hispanic population out,” Geliske said. “My first year, we played at the (football) stadium and I could hear conversations behind me.
“Now since moving here (Saluda Athletic Complex), we fill up our home stands, and they’re loud. We have had some out here with noisemakers and some waving big Mexican flags.”

Opinion

Pope John Paul II walked clear path of peace, hope

April 6, 2005

It’s always a sad occasion when anyone dies. Our earthly experiences condition us to grieve at the loss of a loved one. The same is true when someone of the moral caliber of Pope John Paul II “slips” the confining coils of mortality.
Let no Christian weep, however. This larger than life servant of God has, as pointed out by numerous commentators, gone home, where his reward is beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. His journey through this world had an impact that is matched by very few.
Millions of people all over the world, and many more in Greenwood and the rest of South Carolina, have joined the prayers and praise that ring from one end of creation to the other.

THEY HAVE CONGREGATED in Rome, the “eternal city,” in an extended vigil of respect until his early manifestation is laid to rest.
Pope John Paul II was indeed a man of peace. Agree or not with Vatican politics, his message of tranquility, even though it eludes humanity still, is a vision for the ages.
It is encouraging to see a note of harmony, even if it may only be a fleeting moment in time. Such an outpouring is rare in a fractured world that has jumped from one conflict to another throughout history.
When millions of people, black, white, yellow and all shades in between, let their hearts speak in unison for one who has championed freedom for all people, it focuses the spotlight of hope that can light every dark corner of the world ….. and minds.

EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS planet, of course, is not Catholic. And, there are many who believe in nothing or no one. Nevertheless, when such love and respect is shown for one man and what he stood for and lived every day, how can there not be hope.
There is, to be sure, hatred and a host of other sins that define all of us, whether capitalist, communist, Democrat, Republican, Baptist or Hindu. When the basic goodness of a John Paul II touches so many, though, and so many respond in kind, the future somehow seems brighter.
The world is a better place because of this forthright man of kindness and goodwill. He has shown us a clearer path to the future. It’s up to us to avoid the pitfalls along the way.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Mary C. Callaham

PLUM BRANCH — Services for Mary C. Callaham are 1 p.m. Thursday at New Hope Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Oscar Brown. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Eddie Morgan, James Harrison, Gilbert Morgan, Jamar Harrison, Trell Harrison, Alvin Chiles and Johnny Lee Talbert.
Flower bearers are Kindra Jennings, Clarissa Holloway, Lashonda Talbert, Fanyetta McDaniel, Kasonya Jennings, Josie Harrison, Crystal Callaham and Destiny Harrison.
The family is at the home, White Town Road.
Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Velma Adams Carter

Services for Velma Loretta Adams Carter are 1 p.m. Friday at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, McCormick, conducted by the Rev. Roderick Cummings, pastor. Assisting are the Revs. Cuba Turman, Norris Turner and Dora Brooks. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are church officers.
Flower bearers are Bessie Mims, Helen Wideman, Effie Key, Phillis New, Catherine Callaham, Vonzella Johnson, Effie Barker and Georgia Morton.
The family is at the home, 806 Taggart Ave.
Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Lee Charles

WILMINGTON, Del. — Thomas Lee Charles, 78, of 3 Drummond Drive, formerly of Greenwood, S.C., widower of Blanche Gentry Charles, died Monday, April 4, 2005 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del.
Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The body is being returned to Greenwood where services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Ewell G. Cotney

NEWBERRY — Ewell G. Cotney, 82, of Springfield Place, widower of Hazel Bedenbaugh Cotney, died Monday, April 4, 2005 at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Newberry, he was a son of the late James N. and Florence Stockman Cotney. He was World War II Army veteran and a former employee of Spartan Grain, Shealy Tractor and the Newberry Airport. He was a member of Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church, Amity Masonic Lodge No. 87 and Hejaz Shrine Temple.
Survivors include a daughter, Vickie C. Powell of Anderson; a sister, Elizabeth C. Cohen of Greenwood; four brothers, Boyd Cotney, Troy Cotney, J.D. Cotney and Birtrium Cotney, all of Newberry; and two grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Walter Green and Wako Cotney. Burial is in Newberry Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are nephews, Larry Cotney, Dale Dominick, Toby Shealy, Dean Cotney, Laverne Cotney, Bobby Cotney, Terry Cotney and Steve Shealy.
Memorials may be made to Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church, 1105 First St., Newberry, SC 29108.
Whitaker Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com

Ken Livingston

Kenneth Chester “Roadrunner” Livingston, 48, of 505 Circle Road, husband of Lisa Richard Livingston, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of George E. “Buck” Livingston and the late Lunette W. Livingston. He was a self-employed auto mechanic and former owner of Ken’s Automotive. He served in the Army during the Vietnam era and was a member of East Side Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his father of Greenwood; a daughter, Crystal Kenchelle Livingston of the home and Presbyterian College student; a son, Dakota “Cody” Austin Livingston of the home; three brothers, Wayne Livingston, Virgil Livingston and Dwight Livingston, all of Greenwood.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Zebulon D. Young and Randy Ouzts. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Rob Robbins, Mike Williams, Tommy Streetman, John Vernon, Vincent Alvarez and Bon Dahling.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Marvin McCranie

GREENWOOD – Marvin Edward McCranie, 80, of 103 Greenbriar Drive, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at his home.
Born in Eastman, GA, he was a son of the late Charlie Wesley and Mamie Livingston McCranie. He retired from Greenwood Mills, Chalmers Plant after 35 years of service and was a member of Marshall Road Church of God.
Surviving is a daughter, Cheryl M. Adams of Abbeville; two sons, Glen McCranie of High Falls, GA and Thomas E. McCranie of Waterloo; three sisters, Mary Alice Steele, Clyde Jones and Ruby Kelly, all of Greenwood; his fiance, Pacita Cuentes of Greenwood; five grandsons and a great grandchild.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Donald Rowell and the Rev. Milton Hannah officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Andrew McCranie, John Michael McCranie, Chris Weeks, Ricky Butler, Ronnie Bridges and Clifford Chinn.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m.
The family is at the home at The Willows.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1741, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Willie ‘Tump’ Middleton

McCORMICK — Willie “Tump” Middleton, 74, of Apt. B-2 McCormick Manor, died Monday, April 4, 2005 at Wesley Commons in Greenwood.
A son of the late Willie and Savannah Wideman Middleton, he was educated in McCormick public schools and was a member of Straight Gate Church of God.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty J. Middleton of McCormick and Hazel Brown of Charlotte, N.C.; seven sons, James Middleton of New Jersey, Damon Middleton, Phillip Middleton, Melvin Middleton and Elvin Middleton, all of Greenwood, Jesse Middleton and David Michael Middleton, both of McCormick; two sisters, Mildred Fambrough of McCormick and Betty Martin of Greenwood; 36 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Holy Spring Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert Knox.
Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home of a sister Mildred Fambrough, Route 2 and a daughter Betty Middleton, Church Street.
McCormick Memorial Chapel is in charge.

Lillie Wilson

WARE SHOALS, SC – Lillie Mae “Cooler” McAllister Wilson, 79, wife of James N. “Pickerstick” Wilson of 4 Ware St. died Monday, April 4, 2005. She was born in Abbeville County, a daughter of the late Bazel Lee and Belle Hunnicutt McAllister. She was retired from Huggins Mfg. Co. and was a member of Sharon Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Surviving besides her husband are several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by a son, Douglas Wilson.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 3 PM at Parker-White Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Bowling and Rev. Aaron Hughes officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens The family is at the home and will receive friends Wednesday, 7-9 PM at Parker-White Funeral Home.
PAID OBITUARY

Jim Woodson

James Casper “Jim” “Woody” Woodson, 85, of 140 Tranquil Road, widower of Mary Jordan Woodson, died Monday, April 4, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenville County, he was a son of the late Casper Jackson and Nancy Jordan Woodson. He retired from Greenwood Mills Compound and attended Connie Maxwell Baptist Church and Greenwood Wesleyan Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Randy (Mickey) Williams of Norway and Mrs. Allen (Teresa) Robison of Abbeville; a son, Jimmy Woodson of Greenwood; a sister, Sue Woodson of Williamston; and seven grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Connie Maxwell Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Doug Kauffman and Jonathan Payne. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Connie Maxwell Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Grant Williams, Ryan Williams, Kurt Sharpe, Jason Sharpe, Larry Kaye, Jack Campbell, Joe Gambrell and Dwight Morgan.
Honorary escorts are Senior Saints of Connie Maxwell, along with Mr. and Mrs. Jack McKellar, Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Svenningsen, James Lindsey and Lynn Clem.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com