Community leaders, Gov. Sanford honor area service agency

May 21, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

Community leaders and staff with GLEAMNS human services agency honored the achievements of its customers Friday for Community Action Day.
“Community Action offered this time frame to spotlight creative ways in which the agency is helping people and customers demonstrate our strengths and their strengths,” said Jan Owens, assistant director of the Community Services Block Grant program.
The Community Services Block Grant program operates under GLEAMNS (Greenwood, Laurens, Edgefield, Abbeville, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda).
Owens said the ceremony was about uniting as a network to increase the agency’s visibility and to fight poverty.
GLEAMNS staff from each county honored various people who had used and continue to use the services that the agency provides including paying utility bills and assisting with rent and mortgage payments.
Many of the state and local community leaders attending thanked GLEAMNS for the work it does and encouraged the staff to continue their efforts.
Claude Thomas, chairman of the board of commissioners for the GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission Inc., spoke about declaring war on poverty.
“Today, the war is still ongoing, but with resources such as GLEAMNS Community Action, we are able to put a dent in the war,” he said.
Mayor Floyd Nicholson encouraged the guests to visit GLEAMNS to learn more about the agency and its impact on the community.
“It takes partnership to change people’s lives,” State Rep. Anne Parks said.
The partnership between local government and GLEAMNS is what Greenwood County Manager Jim Kier said he hopes to continue. “It’s what we need to think about for our people,” he said.
Assistant Police Chief Mike Butler shared how GLEAMNS makes a difference in children’s lives.
“The children whose lives you have touched, I applaud you for what you are doing with them,” Butler said. “I am most appreciative to GLEAMNS for the efforts you are making to revitalize the community.”
Bertie Mckie with the office of Economic Opportunity presented a proclamation, signed by Gov. Mark Sanford, to GLEAMNS CEO Joseph Patton honoring the efforts of the agency and its staff.

Shavonne Potts covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3306, or: spotts@indexjournal.com.

Katie Hunter Avery

BELTON — Katie Hunter Avery, 88, of 132 Holloway Blvd., formerly of 3534 E. 140th St., Cleveland, Ohio, widow of A.W. Avery, died Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at Hospice of the Upstate.
Born in Anderson County, she was a member of St. James A.M.E. Church, Cleveland, where she was a steward, usher and choir member. She was also affiliated with Bethlehem A.M.E. Church of Belton. A member of the Order of the Eastern Star, she was a Democratic Party precinct committee member for more than 50 years. She was a retired caregiver with Beachwood Children’s Home in Cleveland.
Survivors include two sisters, Bertha Galloway of Cleveland and Laura Scott of Baltimore and a brother, Manson Hunter of Belton.
Services are 11 a.m. today at Holloway’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Sandra Smith, C.R. Watkins and Odell Burns. Burial is in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.
The family is at the home of a brother, Manson Hunter, 132 Holloway Blvd.
Holloway’s Funeral Home is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Debbie A. Calhoun

Services for Debbie A. Calhoun, of 337 N. Emerald St., are 2 p.m. today at Rocky Mount Baptist Church, Washington, Ga., conducted by the Rev. Roy Andrews. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home of David Calhoun Sr., 119 Henry St., Abbeville.
Local arrangements by Abbeville & White Mortuary.

James A. Mullings

ABBEVILLE — James Alpha Mullings, 65, of 289 Maggie Lane, died Saturday, May 14, 2005 at his home.
Services with military honors are 2 p.m. today at Fairfield Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Michael Pepper, assisted by the Rev. J.C. Eichelberger. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews.
Flower bearers are friends of the family.
Viewing is 9-1 today at Abbeville & White Mortuary.
The family is at the home.
Abbeville & White Mortuary is in charge.

Mary Martin Tolbert

Mary Martin Tolbert, 92, of 124 Pressley St., widow of Roosevelt Tolbert, died Friday, May 20, 2005 at National Health Care.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Will and Mary Ann Wright Martin. She was a retired cook with Greenwood School District 50. She was a member of Zion Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church, Greenwood.
Survivors include three daughters, Martha J. Coats and Helen R. Fulton, both of Greenwood and Ann E. Tolbert of the home; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
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@emeraldis.com

James Louis Ware

Services for James Louis Ware, of 100 Cheerio Lane, Asheville, N.C., are 11 a.m. Monday at Robinson & Son Mortuary, conducted by the Rev. Jo Ann Anderson. Burial is in Ninety Six Community Cemetery.
Pallbearers are friends of the family.
Visitation is at the home of a sister, Frances Wilson, 656 Grier St., Mathews Mill Village, Greenwood.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

CORRECTION

For the obituary of Lisa Anne Szymanski in Friday’s paper, the church location was omitted from the information submitted to The Index-Journal. Memorial services are at New Market Baptist Church on Ninety Six Highway.

Rain postpones area events

May 21, 2005

From staff reports

The afternoon thundershowers that hit Greenwood and the Lakelands area Friday caused a delay in the start of the Greenwood American Legion Post 20 baseball season.
The International Professional Rodeo Association’s rodeo at River Oaks Arena in Ware Shoals is now tonight and Sunday.
The rain also forced River Oaks to postpone Friday’s event and reschedule it for Sunday. The rodeo is 8 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Post 20’s scrimmage with Rock Hill at Legion Field was called off well before the originally scheduled 7:30 p.m. start time.
Greenwood coach Billy Dean Minor said that because it was just a scrimmage and Rock Hill having to travel so far, he and the Rock Hill coach mutually agreed to suspend Friday night’s game.
“They are over two hours away and at the time we called it, the field was standing in water,” Minor said.
The Post 20 coach said he and the Rock Hill coach discussed rescheduling the scrimmage, but haven’t set a date. Minor said he doubted that it would happen before Post 20’s regular season opener June 6 at Easley.
Between now and then, the team will play in a preseason tournament in Easley. The first game is Tuesday and rest are May 28.
IPRA cowboys and cowgirls will compete in seven events during the 14th annual event at the arena. IPRA competitors will vie for wins in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding and women’s barrel racing.

Built-in bias in the U. N. and foot-dragging vetos

May 21, 2005

Ask anyone in Greenwood about the effectiveness of the United Nations. If they keep up, it’s not likely there’d be many positive responses.
There are 15 members of the Security Council, but only five are permanent, and any permanent member can veto any resolution. The five permanent members are the U. S., Russia, China, Britain and France. There are 10 temporary members, as well.
Everyone, no doubt, remembers times when one of the permanent members has used the veto to stop business. In fact, Russia, France and China did everything they could to hinder U. S. efforts to oust Saddam Hussein in Iraq and generally make things that much more difficult for us.
There’s a good reason for that, too, and it’s not all about Iraq. There is a built-in bias against anything American ….. except accepting its money.
Now, Brazil, Germany, Japan and India have drafted a resolution that would expand the Security Council to 25 members. It would make those four plus two African nations permanent members.
Imagine how much foot-dragging could be brought about by six more with vetoes.
We could, of course, veto the resolution. But, then, maybe we should let it go through. If anyone wanted to effectively eliminate the U. N., what better way than gumming up the works more than they are already.