Driving to the Masters?

The road to Augusta leads through Greenwood

April 7, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Though professional golfers are swinging away more than 60 miles to the south, the flurry of activity surrounding the Masters is reaching Greenwood.
Local hotels, restaurants, and, yes, golf courses are abuzz this week with fans who are drawn to what many call golf’s most prestigious event.
“Greenwood definitely benefits from those attending the Masters, and we appreciate their support of our community,” said Kelly McWhorter, director of membership development and public relations with the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The Masters always welcomes a lot of dining and lodging activity here in the Greenwood area,” McWhorter said.
Greenwood’s location — about an hour and a half away from Augusta — is a key draw for fans and Masters patrons who aren’t able to book hotel rooms near the Augusta National Golf Club.
“Because lodging in Augusta has been booked well in advance, most of the hotels and motels stay occupied throughout this week to full capacity due to Greenwood’s close proximity to Augusta,” McWhorter said. “Because we are ‘en route’ to Augusta, a great deal of dining traffic takes place throughout the week, as many patrons prefer to stop in Greenwood.”
Assistant City Manager Charlie Barrineau added that “(U.S.) 25 is a big corridor to get folks from Greenwood to Augusta.”
“It’s a great time of the year for our community,” Barrineau said, adding that everything from restaurants and retail shops to gas stations benefit from the extra traffic in town.
That added traffic has a “tremendous” economic impact on the Greenwood area, said Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson, adding that the tourism spurred by the event helps promote the community as a growing city with many opportunities.
“A lot of people stay here and return here over the years because they like what we have to offer,” Nicholson said. “It’s like a hidden treasure and, when word gets out, it’s a good selling point for our entire community.”
Nicholson said the recent bump in accommodations taxes inside city limits, paired with the new hospitality tax, should also have an impact on the amount of money generated during the week.
“It will help provide a boost to a lot of programs in the community,” he said.
Hotel managers in Greenwood reported Thursday that, though there were a few rooms still available, most hotels were near capacity — and would continue to be throughout the upcoming weekend.
“This is generally a really busy time for us,” said Inn on the Square General Manager Russ Ritson. “This week is extremely important to us because it is a lot of good exposure for (the hotel) in general.”
Ritson said guests have checked in from other towns in South Carolina as well as other states, keeping the hotel “completely sold out” this week. A few vacancies had opened for the Uptown hotel by the end of the week, he said.
“I think (the Masters) really gives people, even as far away as Augusta, an opportunity to see how close Greenwood is and to see what is going on in Uptown,” Ritson said.
The situation was similar at other lodging facilities in Greenwood, with managers and front desk clerks with the Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Jameson Inn and Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites reporting that most of their rooms had been reserved for the week.
“We’re always busy during this time frame,” said Donnah Roberts, front desk manager with Fairfield Inn. “It’s always a wonderful group to have.”
For those who wanted to practice like the pros they were watching in Augusta, local golf courses were the places to be this week.
Greenwood Country Club Merchandise Manager Dana Taylor said the club has seen players from throughout the United States this week, as members bring in guests to play a few rounds.
Hunter’s Creek Golf Course Head Golf Professional Jason Allen said that because golf courses in the Augusta area generally raise their fees during the week of the Masters, many golfers opt to play at courses in other areas.
“The Masters is the most prestigious (PGA) golf tournament,” Allen said of the tournament’s appeal. “For so many years, the Masters has been kept private, and it is still that way ... It’s very, very prestigious.”

New Abbeville shootout details emerge

April 7, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

ABBEVILLE — The Lexington County Detention Center has a new tenant: an Abbeville man charged with murder in connection with the shooting deaths of two law enforcement officers.
Steven Bixby was ordered by Tenth Circuit Judge Alexander Macaulay to be moved from the Anderson County Detention Center because his defense attorneys objected to way their client was being transported to and from meetings with expert witnesses.
The defense team filed a motion asking Macaulay to vacate the death penalty against Bixby because Abbeville County Sheriff Charles Goodwin found out about Bixby’s appointments — information the sheriff was not entitled to have, the motion said.
The Bixby team’s motion called Goodwin, present in court Thursday for a hearing about the issue, “one of the investigators and a key member of the state’s prosecution team.”
Lexington County has the responsibility of keeping Bixby’s appointments private, an order signed by Macaulay says.
Bixby’s trial date is Oct. 2. But Macaulay delayed making a decision on whether the trial would be in Abbeville and what county will supply the jury. The court already has determined a jury of Abbeville County residents will not hear the case against Bixby.
In addition to the court’s action of moving Bixby, several other matters came before Macaulay during hearings attended by Bixby and mother Rita Bixby. They are charged in connection with the December 2003 deaths of Abbeville Sheriff’s Sgt. Danny Wilson and constable Donnie Ouzts.
The prosecution contends a right-of-way dispute over the widening of S.C. 72 through Abbeville brought about the officers’ deaths.
Rita Bixby’s attorneys presented arguments to Macaulay that the charges against her do not entitle the state to seek the death penalty for their client. There is no case law in American justice that authorizes the death penalty for a person with Rita Bixby’s charges — accessory before the fact of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and misprision of felony, which is failing to report the planning of a crime — agreed Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace and Rita Bixby defense attorney Jeffrey Bloom.
“There are no cases that have dealt with this issue,” Peace told the court.
Bloom said the state’s notice to seek the death penalty violates state law and the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. Peace said the state Legislature could have exempted from the death penalty statute crimes such as accessory before the fact of murder but did not do so.
Macaulay gave the attorneys until April 21 to file memos based on the hearing and said he plans to rule on the defense motion by May 8. No trial date has been set for Rita Bixby.
Also, Macaulay refused to hear a motion filed by a North Carolina man, Donald Sullivan, asking for Rita Bixby’s immediate release from jail.
Macaulay lectured Sullivan, who stood in open court at the end of the Rita Bixby hearing and demanded to be heard. Sullivan, who is not a lawyer, insisted he was there “to protect Mrs. Bixby’s rights.”
“I assure you,” Macaulay said, “the whole court system of the United States will do that. And some of us are better qualified than others.”
Sullivan said after the hearing that he came to court in Abbeville expecting to get arrested for trying to act as Rita Bixby’s lawyer. Macaulay said from the bench that action is against the law in South Carolina. Sullivan filed a “next friend” motion, something Peace said he had never heard of in his law experience.
Hearing about the Bixbys on “America’s Most Wanted” in 2003, Sullivan said he felt compelled to defend Rita Bixby from what he called an unlawful detention by authorities. He said she should not have been held this long on the charges against her.
“There is no reason Rita should be in jail,” he said. “When I see rights violated and I know who they are and I do nothing, that’s misprision of duty. They’re going to kill these people. That’s what police do.”
For the first time in open court, as part of Rita Bixby’s hearing, parts of State Law Enforcement Division investigative reports were read from the witness stand, providing a window into what happened on that infamous day in December.
A portion of Steven Bixby’s statement was read to the court. The statement said Steven and father Arthur Bixby were drinking coffee when someone came to the door and Arthur answered it. Steven Bixby said in the statement that “a black deputy” was at the door and the deputy said the state highway department was going to take their land whether the Bixbys wanted them to or not.
Then, Steven Bixby’s statement said, the deputy unclicked the holster to his sidearm.
Other portions of the SLED reports read to the court said the road-widening dispute between the Bixbys and the S.C. Department of Transportation had been escalating since Dec. 5 and that Rita Bixby declared herself “proud” of her son not for shooting a deputy but for defending his property.
Abbeville Sheriff’s Deputy Barry New testified that he heard from a distant relative, Elaine Taylor, the night before the shootings that she was afraid of what Steven Bixby might do about the road-widening dispute. New said he arranged to have that information, that there might be violence at the Bixby home, transmitted to deputies coming onto the next shift. He said Wilson was told specifically about the threat.
Statements read to court indicated that threats also were made by the Bixbys to highway officials and workers.
“I talked to SCDOT representatives and they told me about the threats, and I posted a memo,” New said. “Wilson went to the SCDOT Abbeville office and talked to an engineer. He agreed to go there and talk to the Bixbys. Nobody (with the sheriff’s office) directed him. One other deputy knew he was going there, or possibly would go there, but he did not know to go as backup.” The prosecution claims that Rita Bixby was in on the threats to highway officials and workers and that she prodded Steven and Arthur to use violence to keep the road-widening project from taking their land.
In one statement, Rita Bixby was said to have told people working on the road-widening that “they would fight for the land until their last breath” and that her family is from New Hampshire and the state motto there is “Live free or die.”
“Mrs. Bixby was an active participant all through this whole scenario. The only reason she left the home (at 4 Union Church Road on Dec. 8, 2003) was because she wanted to protect her handicapped son,” Peace said. “Whoever came to the Bixby home, (the Bixbys) were willing to take lethal force.”
Leaving the Abbeville County Courthouse after a draining day of attending the Bixby hearings — the Rita Bixby hearing lasted two hours — the late constable’s son, Chris Ouzts, said the wait for justice is frustrating, but the family is vigilant.
“We just keep praying to the Lord. We know where (my dad) is at,” Chris Ouzts said. “He pressured the doctor to get back to work after his heart attack because he loved what he did.
“It’s like we’ll never get justice. We holding together.”

Eating for a cause:

‘Progressive dinner’ helps local theater

April 7, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

What’s better than enjoying an excellent dinner in one of Uptown Greenwood’s fine restaurants? How about enjoying an excellent dinner in three of them.
That’s what most people dining Thursday night in Uptown did, keeping area restaurants particularly busy.
“We had to bring in another person tonight, and we’ve got four bartenders working. Business has been great,” said Misty Huffman, co-owner of Inn on the Square.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, diners flocked to the inn’s Starlight Room, along with Frankglen’s, T.W. Boons and Uptown Sushi, enjoying a “progressive dinner.”
The event was sponsored by Uptown Greenwood Development Corp. to allow diners to check out what local restaurants have to offer and help the Greenwood Community Theatre in the process. Tickets for the dinner were $25, with all proceeds going toward renovating the theater.
One ticket allowed diners to select an appetizer, entree and dessert from one of any of the four restaurants in any combination the diner chose.
“I think it was a good change,” Greenwood resident Charlie Watkins said. “It made dinner a little more interesting.”
A big supporter of the theater and an actor in several of its plays, Watkins attended the progressive dinner with wife Helen and friends of the couple, Gene and Faye Todd. The group enjoyed an appetizer at Inn On the Square, then moved to T.W. Boons for an entree before heading to Uptown Sushi for dessert.
Watkins said he was impressed with the number of options the dinner offered, and each member of the party said the progressive dinner was something they would do again if it is offered in the future.
Brand Spangenberg and wife Sigrid opted to stay put for their meal. After a little dancing in Countybank Plaza, where The Fabulous Expressions performed, the couple made their way to Inn on the Square. It was a wonderful time, Sigrid said. The couple were looking forward to heading back out for more dancing after dinner.
Both said they like to support the arts as much as possible and always appreciate an opportunity to enjoy good food and some fun, making the progressive dinner an excellent event, they said.
The Greenwood Community Theatre is undergoing $800,000 in renovations, and the progressive dinner will benefit this step in the development of the Emerald Triangle Cultural Arts District in Uptown.

Opinion

Two sides to the story on the McKinney case

April 7, 2006

Write your own editorial!
Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., created quite a controversy recently in the U. S. Capital. It’s been ballyhooed so much no one could have missed it. Trouble is, getting both sides of that story has not always been easy ..... especially from the television networks or big-city media.
It went like this, for anyone who might not have heard about it. On March 29, it was reported that Rep. McKinney struck a Capitol Police officer who attempted to stop her when she entered a House office building without proper identification.
According to witnesses, the congresswoman three times ignored police orders to stop at a security checkpoint. She later held a press conference with her lawyer and supporters where she accused the Capitol Police of “racism” and “racial profiling.”

IT HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED that Rep. McKinney has a history of run-ins with Capitol Police.
Her side of the story has been told and retold on countless TV shows and in print. Now, as Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story. It comes from the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny). Its purpose, according to the Rev. Peterson, is for “rebuilding the family by rebuilding the man.” He also is the author of “SCAM: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America.”
Rev. Peterson, also black, said, “This situation is an example of a black liberal Democrat using allegations of racism in order to get away with breaking the law. It’s disgraceful that Cynthia McKinney would charge the Capitol Police with racism for trying to do their jobs.

“CHARGES OF ‘RACISM’ and ‘racial profiling’ by McKinney and her attorney are code words often used to intimidate white Americans and get black racists off the hook.
“McKinney could have easily defused this situation by apologizing for not having proper identification and for attacking the officer; instead she holds a press conference flanked by known racists such as Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, and members of the NAACP, The real racists here are Cynthia McKinney and her racially divisive supporters” Peterson said. “The U. S. Attorney’s office must vigorously pursue this case regardless of the race, gender, or position of the person involved, in order to send a clear message that this type of racial demagoguery will not thwart justice.”
She apologized Thursday, but was it too little too late?
Write your own editorial!

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

Obituaries

Patricia Lott Bates

SALUDA — Patricia Lott Bates, 54, of 115 Cedar St., died Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Sudie Clark Lott. She was a 1969 Riverside High School graduate, a 1973 graduate of South Carolina State College and received a master’s degree in human services from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. A member of Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, she was a former social worker for Carolina Medical Center in North Carolina.
Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Niara Bates of Columbia; three brothers, Eugene Lott and Benjamin Lott of Saluda and Johnny M. Lott of Laurens; two sisters, Mrs. Wilbert (Annie) Young and Mrs. Charlie (Mattie) Harp, both of Saluda.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, conducted by Elder Wilbert Young, assisted by Elder Henry Watson. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews, and flower bearers are nieces and great-nieces.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Ralph Grier Ellis, Jr.

Brunswick, GA — Ralph Grier Ellis, Jr., M.D., age 76, died Monday, April 3, 2006. Dr. Ellis received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict as the naval ships doctor then worked as an anesthesiologist for 30 years in several states before starting an alternative medical practice. He was the founder of Coastal Georgia Health Research Institute in Brunswick, Georgia, and was actively practicing medicine until his death. Dr. Ellis had many medical affiliations including the AMA, ACAM, ICIM, and IOMA.
He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law; Grier (Ralph III) and Jennifer Ellis, Callahan, FL, Steven and Chun Lei Ellis, Los Gatos, CA, and David Ellis, Brunswick. Two daughters; Lynne Ellis, Brunswick, and Christine Ellis, Brunswick. A sister, Christine McRee, Raleigh, NC, and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, April 9th at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Katherine ‘K’ Gamsby

DUE WEST — Katherine “K” Louise Hildebrand Gamsby, 82, of Due West Retirement Center, wife of Frank N. Gamsby, died Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Carlisle Nursing Center on the retirement center campus.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Greenwood.

Doug Gunter

George Douglas “Doug” Gunter, 47, of 119 Salak Road, husband of Susann Hurst Gunter, died Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

Katherine W. McKinney

PLUM BRANCH — Katherine W. McKinney, 82, of White Town community, widow of James Robert McKinney, died Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Trinity Mission Health & Rehab in Edgefield.
Born Feb. 5, 1924 in the White Town community, she was a daughter of the late Claude and Pearl Riddlehoover White. She was a homemaker, a lifetime resident of Plum Branch and a member of Plum Branch Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, William “Billy” C. McKinney and his wife, Susan of Plum Branch; a daughter, Florence McKinney Cronin and her husband, Bud of Columbia; a daughter-in-law, Betty Carol McKinney of Plum Branch; two sisters, Margaret W. Dorn and Nina W. Brown, both of Plum Branch; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a son, Robert F. “Bobby” McKinney.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Plum Branch Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Daryl Engle.
Pallbearers are Jason McKinney, Ryan Cronin, Mark McKinney, Neal White, David Harper and Dan Crawford.
Visitation is after the service.
Friends may call at the home of Billy and Susan McKinney, 2665 Upper Mill Road, Plum Branch. Memorials may be made to Plum Branch Cemetery Fund, c/o Plum Branch Baptist Church, Plum Branch, SC 29845.
Strom Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.
PAID OBITUARY

Edward Alexander Reynolds

COLUMBIA — Edward Alexander Reynolds, 84, died Thursday, April 6, 2006.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Edward Hays and Rebekah Graham Reynolds. He was a graduate of the University of South Carolina and retired at age 55 after 35 years with the S.C. Tax Commission. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include a brother, H. Graham Reynolds of Trenton.
Memorial services are 4 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, Smith Chapel.
Visitation is at the church after the services.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church.
Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street, is in charge.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.dunbarfuneralsandcremations.com

Gordon M. Weatherman

DUE WEST — Memorial services for Gordon Miles Weatherman, of Due West Retirement Center, are 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Due West ARP Church.
Memorials may be made to Carlisle Nursing Facility, DWRC, PO Box 307, Due West, SC 29639. The McDougald Funeral Home, Anderson, is in charge.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com

Nora McJunkin Whitmire

GREENVILLE — Nora Irene McJunkin Whitmire, 86, of 205 Walnut St., widow of James E. Whitmire, died Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at her home.
Born in Pickens County, she was a daughter of the late Robert M. and Essie Lee Dickert McJunkin. She was retired from Union Carbide Electronics, Simpsonville Plant. After her retirement, she worked as a nanny for many years. She was a member of Pelham Road Baptist Church and the Senior Ladies Sunday School Class.
Survivors include five sons, Robert Whitmire of Greenwood, Roy Whitmire and Roger Whitmire, both of Simpsonville, Allen Whitmire of Camden, Jimmy L. Whitmire of Greenville; two sisters, Lois Rhymer of Greenville and Edith Parker of Greenwood; a brother, Folger McJunkin of Hendersonville; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Pelham Road Baptist Church. Burial is in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Pickens.
Pallbearers are Douglas Whitmire, Major Jeffrey Whitmire, Bret Whitmire, Brian Whitmire, Phillip Whitmire, Joey Whitmire, Richie Whitmire and Kyle Whitmire.
Visitation is 6:30-8 tonight at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Pelham Road Baptist Church Building Fund, 1108 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC 29615.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.thomasmcafee.com

Julia Mae Young

Honea Path — Julia Mae Boggs Young, 65, of 701 Chiquola Avenue, wife of Bobby Ray Young, died Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at the Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Sam and Eula Mae Taylor Boggs. She was retired from Becton-Dickinson and was a member of the Honea Path First Assembly of God.
Surviving are her husband of the home; two brothers, James Alfred Boggs and Cecil Boggs, both of Ware Shoals; three sisters-in-law, Betty Jean Boggs, Susie Boggs, and Virginia Boggs, all of Ware Shoals; a niece, Debbie Boggs of Ware Shoals. She was predeceased by a son, Mitchell Ray Young, and by two brothers, Taylor Boggs and Clarence Boggs.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the Honea Path First Assembly of God with Rev. Harmon Adkins and Rev. Mac Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 P.M. Friday at Pruitt Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church at 1:00 P.M. Saturday. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Rd., Anderson, SC 29621. The family is at the home.
PAID OBITUARY