Storms drench area

Hail, torrential rainfall, wind lash Lakelands; no major damage reported

December 5, 2005

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

Karen Davenport thought someone was throwing rocks at her house Sunday night.
But when she looked out the window of her house on Rock House Road in Greenwood, she said there was hail the size of a thumbnail piled up around the edges of everything in her yard.
“The hail didn’t look quite as big as it sounded like it was,” Davenport said.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Horne said thunderstorms began developing around Greenwood and surrounding counties about 4 p.m., with some areas receiving as much as 2 ½ inches of rain.
There were reports of an inch of hail about seven miles southwest of Greenwood County and three-quarter-inch hail inside Greenwood County, Horne said.
In many areas, the hail melted so quickly that there were clouds of steam rising from residents’ property.
The combination of the unusually humid air and strong winds caused the thunderstorm that lasted about three hours, Horne said.
During that time, tornado warnings were in effect in Abbeville, Ninety Six and Greenwood, but Horne said there was only one report of a tornado touching down and that no damage was reported.
Horne said further investigation will take place today to determine if a tornado actually did touch down in the area. He said he expects more showers and thunderstorms to continue into the afternoon.
Herbert Vaughn, interim director of the Greenwood Emergency Preparedness Center, said there were no reports of significant damage caused by hail, but that damage might become more visible in daylight.
Odell Austin, of Greenwood, said the storm sounded like it had damaged his house on Saddle Hill Road, and he thought it had torn the shutters off before having checked outside.
He said his yard was completely covered with hail.
“I got scared — and I was here by myself,” Austin said. “I didn’t know what to think about it.”
Despite the severe weather conditions, there were no reports of weather-related accidents on area roadways.
South Carolina Highway Patrol spokesman Lance Cpl. Steve Sluder said one vehicle went into a ditch, but it was unclear whether the accident was related to weather conditions.
The Greenwood Police Department said it did not have any weather-related reports of accidents.
“We’ve been lucky,” Capt. Hugh Butler said. “We haven’t had one problem related to the storm.”
Lee Lewis, manager of community affairs at Duke Power, said there were only two customers in the Greenwood area without power and he was not certain if they were weather related.
Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works General Manager Steve Reeves said there were two reports of areas without service. A small residential area went without service for 30 minutes, and the area around Enterprise Court that connects to Morningside of Greenwood assisted living facility was out of service for a little while Sunday night.
The Greenwood City Fire Department responded to the power outage at Morningside, but Battalion Chief Stewart McDonald said the department had not responded to any fires caused by the storm.
Mornigside Community Relations Director Gene Pinson said that about 6:30 p.m. people said they heard a big explosion and saw lights flash outside. After lightning struck a transformer near the assisted living facility, the power was off in the building until about 8:15 p.m.
Pinson said that until the fire department and CPW resolved the problem, the auxiliary power came on, lighting all the hallways and about 25 percent of the rooms.
He said the staff practices for emergencies such as this once a month. All residents were moved into well-lit areas until all power was restored.
He said no one was injured and there was no property damage.
“Everything is running just as smooth as silk now,” Pinson said.

Joanie Baker covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands area. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3306 or by e-mail at jbaker@indexjournal.com.

From Greenwood to Louisiana ...

Toy run to help people affected by hurricane

December 5, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

It wasn’t your typical bike rally scene Sunday when 300 tough-looking bikers on tougher-looking motorcycles paraded through Greenwood with big, fluffy teddy bears and dolls in frilly dresses riding behind them.
They came from all across the Lakelands and as far as Georgia, bringing toys to be taken to children in still devastated parts of Louisiana — likely the only toys those children will receive.
It was the fourth annual Santa’s Cause toy run, and toys collected will be distributed to 900 children being housed at the YMCA in Bogalusa, La., about 70 miles outside of New Orleans.
Toys collected will be transported to Louisiana in two tractor-trailer trucks provided by Chandler Construction of Ninety Six. The company will also donate the gas and drivers to get the toys there.
Decked out in black leader, Blade, whose real name is Bruce Clayton, carried his toy, a giant teddy bear, to the truck on his shoulders. A member of the Warlocks motorcycle group, he said he was only too happy to do whatever he could to help children who have already lost so much.
For the past two years, the toy run has benefited the children of members of the military who are on active duty. When the group started making arrangements for this year’s toy run, members of the National Guard asked that toys be collected for Hurricane Katrina victims instead.
“They said there was a bigger need over there and then they worked with us to pick out a town,” said Tommy Calhoun, treasurer and a founding member of Southern Roads, the group that sponsors the toy run with help from S.C. Highway Patrol Troop 2, Greenwood Family YMCA and Charlie B’s.
Calhoun said he has been in communication with officials from Bogalusa and was informed that the town is still in shambles.
“The mayor even sent us a letter and they seem to be very grateful for this,” Calhoun said. “They’ve received very little help from the government and every building in the parish was damaged by either wind or rain.”
The group’s goal was to raise $50,000 for toys. Even though they fell short of that goal, Calhoun said the event is still a major success, because there will be enough toys for every child on the list. Initially, donations were slow, he said, but since Friday, “Greenwood has really come through.”
Several of the ladies from Southern Roads spent eight-and-a-half hours and about $8,500 shopping for toys Saturday, said Christi Opperman, one of the event organizers.
“I just want to thank the people in Greenwood and everyone who’s helped us in this cause,” Calhoun said. He said K-Mart of Greenwood deserves special thanks for having offered a discount on every toy purchased there. The group also received some help from God this morning, Calhoun said, when the rain held off until after the event.
“It was a big relief,” he said. “It was looking pretty dismal at 9:30 this morning, but everything has worked out.”
The tractor-trailers transporting the toys will leave from Greenwood Thursday and are expected to arrive Saturday, accompanied by 10 members of Southern Roads, who will distribute the toys with help from the two drivers and a supervisor from Chandler Construction.

Opinion

New investments and jobs nice present for governor

December 5, 2005

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has been taken to task in recent months by critics of his economic programs.
Those critics, including a few in his own party, have taken issue with other policies, too, as well as his philosophy of government in general.
There’s no question that jobs and the economy have been causes for concern, but putting all the blame on Sanford is akin to blaming the state Superintendent of Education for all the problems in our schools. There are and have been other factors that would drag on the economy no matter who was governor.
Of course, Sanford is chastised by some because he wants to eliminate unnecessary spending, reduce the size of government, and let taxpayers keep more of their own money instead of giving it to government to waste and/or provide cradle-to-grave support for too many.

THAT DOESN’T MEAN, TO BE sure, that some people don’t deserve government assistance. They do.
Overall, though, there are people who would turn state government into everything from babysitter to father confessor. Some, in fact, would turn government into the tail that wags the dog. They would have government simply take care of everyone in every way. Who that would leave to work to earn the income needed to do all that is never addressed, though.
Despite all the Sanford critics, however, things are looking up for him. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Sanford’s efforts have earned the state a reputation for producing jobs. It said that in September alone about 9,400 jobs were created, making that the most jobs created in any single month in the past 20 years. It also noted that five of the top ten best months over the past 20 years have come this year.

ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE encouraging to every South Carolinian, not just the governor. Emphasis was added when, in the same week, two world-class companies announced plans to build or expand in the Palmetto State, and another said it would also expand.
DaimlerChrysler said it would open a van assembly plant in North Charleston that would eventually represent a $435 million investment and would create 1,800 high-paying jobs.
Following that welcome news, Michelin North America announced it plans an $80 million expansion in the Upstate. It would only add 25 or so jobs, but the fact that Michelin is investing more in this state makes it that much more significant. The same goes for Scout Boats, which is investing $5.5 million in its Summerville plant and creating 50 new jobs.
All in all, it’s been good news for an embattled governor. His efforts, including tort reform, are beginning to pay off. More than that, though, it’s good news for all South Carolinians.

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

Obituaries

Billy Goff

Billy Ray Goff Sr., 76, of 618 Wingert Rd, husband of Thelma Hicks Goff, died Sunday, December 04, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was the son of the late John Henry “J.H.” and Cora Wells Goff. He retired from Abney Mills, Grendel Plant and was an US Army veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a member of Durst Avenue Church of God, where he was a member of the Auditorium Sunday School Class.
He was preceded in death by a son, Darrell Keith Goff.
Survivors include his wife of the home, a son, Billy Ray Goff, Jr. and his wife, Bonnie, of Greenwood, a sister, Gladys Hardy of Greenwood; two grandchildren; Billy Ray “Tripp” Goff, III and his wife, Janet, and Deleigh Goff, and two great-grandchildren, Tanner Goff and Sumher Goff.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Durst Avenue Church of God with Bishop Wallace Purvis officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Lee “JR” Phillips, Frankie Hicks, Allen Furr, Len Young, Roy Pollard, Andy Brown, Jerry Goff, Wally Goff, Don Goff and Wayne Goff.
Honorary escort will be the men of Durst Avenue Church of God.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Monday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Durst Avenue Church of God, PO Box 396, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Joe Louis Nance Jr.

Joe Louis Nance Jr., 48, of 1215 West Alexander Road, husband of Shirley A. Payne Nance, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of Joe Lewis Nance Sr. and Roshella Richardson Nance. He was employed at Mathews Mills and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Joe Louis Nance III and Corey Lamont Nance of the home; three daughters, Angela Payne, Kimberly Payne and Yashchia Nancy, all of Greenwood; four brothers, Calvin Nance of New York, Rufus Nance, Osie Nance, and Parnell Nance, all of Greenwood; 8 sisters, Valerie Robinson of Savannah, Ga., Rosa Lee Nance, Ella Louise Kennedy, Anna Nance, Rena Nance, Rene Nance, Tasha Nance and Jenny Nance, all of Greenwood; 8 grandchildren, one reared in the home, Delvain Payne.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

David Parnell

David Gid Parnell, 78, of 1076 Highway 10, husband of Mary Henderson Parnell, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late Porter G. and Annie Charping Parnell. He was a graduate of Calhoun Falls High School and an Army Veteran of the Korean War. He retired from the National Guard after 25 years of service and Milliken Textiles, McCormick Plant after 42 years of service. A member of McCormick United Methodist Church and the Wesley Adult Sunday School Class, he formerly served on the administrative council of the church. He was a member and Past Worshipful Master of Mine Masonic Lodge No. 117 A.F.M. and was Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 9th Masonic District.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Edith P. Davis of Greenwood; a sister, Betty P. Mauney of Greenwood; three brothers, Howard Parnell and Aaron Parnell, both of Calhoun Falls and Franklin Parnell of Abbeville; and a grandson.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at the McCormick United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jerry James. The body will be placed in the church at 10.
Burial with Masonic Rites is in Overbrook Cemetery. Pallbearers are Allen Patterson Sr., Michael Bouknight, Paul Leverette, Warren Brown, Billy Patterson, Don Wilson and Charles Shealy.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the McCormick United Methodist Church.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to McCormick Masonic Lodge No. 117, c/o John Moore, 201 Twilight Lane, McCormick, S.C. 29835 or to the McCormick United Methodist Church, Gold Street, McCormick, S.C. 29835.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com