Wreck-prone intersection
goes unreported to SCDOT

July 1, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

Though the tall, thick blades of grass are trying to cover it from view, the tiny, white, wooden cross at the corner of East/West Kirksey Drive and S.C. 34 is still visible to the family members of “Aunt B.B.”
Over the years, that intersection has been the site of wrecks caused by drivers disregarding stop signs and their vehicles hitting oncoming vehicles.
As recently as November, Belinda Johnson, of Boone, N.C., died at the scene of a wreck at the intersection, while only weeks ago an almost identical wreck left a car overturned and six people hanging upside down until they were assisted by rescue workers.
The frequency of occurrences has caught the attention of South Carolina Department of Transportation Traffic Engineer Kevin McLaughlin.
McLaughlin said when he noticed the last wreck in the newspaper, he installed intersection warning signs on S.C. 34 and larger stop signs at the intersection so they could be seen from beyond the dip in the road on East Kirksey Drive.
While some residents say a light or flashing warning signal should be placed at the intersection, McLaughlin said he has never received a complaint from the public.
He said he wouldn’t have even known about the problem if he hadn’t read about it since he covers many counties in the Upstate.
McLaughlin said he researched the history of the intersection and found that it averages about one wreck per year, though there have been more occurring there lately. He said if a resident makes a request, he can do a traffic study to see if the intersection warrants a light or “rumble bumps.”
The engineer said SC DOT avoids using the bumps near urban areas, and he thinks the recent adjustment will suffice to improve safety.
“It’s been my experience that larger signs are quite effective and have more of an impact than standard-size signs,” McLaughlin said.
While City Manager Steve Brown said city officials have not received any concerned calls about the intersection either, local residents said it is time something is done.
Joseph Wardlaw lives in the neighborhood on Hardwood Street, off Kirksey, about a mile from the intersection. He said he uses the other entrance into his neighborhood just to avoid the intersection. He said the intersection is too dark at night and it’s too hard to see oncoming traffic during the day because of the overgrown shrubbery.
Wardlaw said he didn’t notice the signs had been changed and agreed with brother-in-law Ferric Fuller that he wouldn’t mind any additional noise caused by rumble bumps as these could save someone’s life.
“I would much rather hear those bumps than hear somebody getting smashed at that corner,” Fuller said.
McLaughlin said SC DOT relies on residents to notice and report problems, adding that residents can call 227-6971 to request any traffic study for a state-maintained road.

Flying high

Man’s booklet on aviation uncovers
Greenwood County’s secret history

July 1, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Broadus “Bo” Bowman had followed John Drummond’s directions to the cemetery exactly.
State Sen. Drummond, D-Ninety Six, told Bowman the gravestone was in an overgrown cemetery near Ninety Six.
Suddenly, Bowman found what he was looking for in a corner near a stone wall.
“John Henry Williamson,” the gravestone read. “One of the Flying Trapeze.”
Bowman had uncovered a part of Greenwood County’s secret aviation history in Ninety Six. But finding Williamson’s grave was only the beginning of the story for Bowman, a semi-retired pilot.
During the next two years, Bowman collected his findings into a booklet describing the takeoffs, landings and crashes in Greenwood County in the early 20th century.
Bowman became interested in creating the aviation history because of his own love of flying.
Greenwood County’s aviation history shouldn’t be forgotten, he said.
“My thing is, what I’ve dug up shouldn’t be lost,” Bowman said.
He enlisted the help of Drummond, who was a boy when Williamson performed daring aerial acrobatic maneuvers in Ninety Six, to help find Williamson’s grave.
Bowman interviewed many other people alive at the time, searched through the Greenwood County Library’s newspaper files and looked at documents at the courthouse to illustrate his history.
Williamson was a flying ace in the late ’20s, first as an Air Cadet in the Army in 1927, then as a cadet instructor at Brooks Field, Texas, Bowman wrote in his history.
When on leave, Williamson flew home to Ninety Six in his bi-plane, performed aerial acrobatics for residents, then landed at his family’s landing strip next to their house, Bowman wrote.
Williamson’s family landing strip is the first recorded landing strip in Greenwood County, according to Bowman. Aerial photos showed Bowman where Williamson’s landing strip used to be.
Williamson would become known to the world as a member of the three-man U.S. Air Corps Flying Trapeze acrobatic air team. The Flying Trapeze performed across the country until 1935.
Greenwood County also was visited by Charles Lindbergh on Oct. 12, 1927, Bowman wrote.
Lindbergh circled Greenwood in the “Spirit of St. Louis” and dropped off a letter greeting local residents. He picked Greenwood because of a request by city officials, Bowman wrote. The letter was tied into a cloth bag and dropped in front of a department store on South Main Street.
The letter was displayed in the department store’s window, but has since been lost.
One of the most well-known airplane crashes in Greenwood County occurred at Lake Greenwood.
A B-25 bomber crashed into the southeast end of the lake on June 6, 1945 during a training exercise. The bomber wasn’t recovered until 1983. It’s currently in storage in Columbia.
Bowman isn’t finished with his history, although it’s more like the history isn’t done with him. His research continues to lead him to other historic flights.
“I just keep stumbling over things,” he said.

Opinion

At least one step taken to eliminating ‘death tax’

July 1, 2006

The American Dream. It can be different things to different people. The common thread running through all the dreamers, though, is freedom to pursue their dreams and the opportunities that make it possible.
It doesn’t end there, however. All South Carolinians who work hard to make it have another dream. That is to make the lives of their children and grandchildren better than what they had. So they take chances, sacrifice and keep their noses to the proverbial grindstone to build something of value to leave behind.
That’s been indicative of the industriousness of most Americans. Success is part of the promise that is America.

SO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ALL that success that is taxed every day in just about every way, from local government to state to federal? Another levy with the somber designation of “death tax” is tacked on. That is, those who inherit the estates have had to pay considerable taxes on what they inherit. Some times it is so severe that inherited property has to be sold to pay the death tax.
There are, to be sure, proponents as well as opponents of this tax. Be that as it may, it’s a punitive tax that undermines the very idea that every person can realize the American Dream. It’s not surprising that some see the tax as a penalty for daring to succeed, not to mention a debilitating factor in the desire and the will to work hard and accumulate an estate to leave loved ones. In effect, it penalizes success and tends to destroy individual initiative ..... the common characteristic of Americans that pushes them toward their own dreams.

SO, THEN, IT’S ENCOURAGING TO see the U. S. House of Representatives take at least one step toward reducing, if not eliminating the tax altogether. It does, however, restore estate taxes in 2010. The measure now goes to the U. S. Senate.
The measure would exempt from taxation individual estates up to $5 million and couple’s estates up to $10 million.
It’s not the best approach to encouraging people to work hard, succeed and build estates for their survivors ..... encourage the American Dream. As the Administration said, though, it’s a step in the right direction.
It is, and it’s a good starting point for providing permanent relief so families can keep the farms, homes and small businesses that have been earned over the years through blood, sweat and tears.

Obituaries

Lloyd S. ‘BO’ Brown

ANDERSON — Lloyd Steve “BO” Brown, 51, of 3208 S. Main St., No. 107, died Thursday, June 29, 2006 at AnMed Health.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals.

Christine Agnew Coleman

Services for Christine Agnew Coleman are 3 p.m. Sunday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Abbeville, conducted by the Rev. Willie Joe Frazier, assisted by the Rev. Guy Ross. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are friends of the family.
Flower bearers are church ushers and friends of the family.
The family is at the home, 1310 Yvonne Ave.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net

Lorena Evans

ABBEVILLE, SC — Lorena Johnson Evans, 90, lifetime resident of Abbeville Co. SC, went to be with the Lord on June 29, 2006. Mrs. Evans was the daughter of the late Walter Eugene and Lorena Beacham Johnson. Mrs. Evans was a graduate of Furman University, where she majored in Music Education with an emphasis in Violin.
She taught third grade for twenty four years at Greenville Street School in Abbeville.
She was active in Christian service at Lebanon Presbyterian Church in Abbeville, SC and at the Due West ARP Church.
She resided at the Due West Retirement Center for the last eighteen years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles B. Evans, Jr.
Rena Evans is survived by sons Charles Evans and his wife Carolyn of Hendersonville, NC and son Benjamin Evans of Atlanta, GA; two grand-daughters Holly Moore and her husband Blake of Greer, SC and Christy Whitehurst and her husband Michael of East Flat Rock, NC and great-grand-children Benjamin, Bailey and Bryson Whitehurst.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday July 2, 2006 at 3:00 PM from the Due West ARP Church in Due West, SC with the Rev.’s Grady Love and Arnold Johnson officiating. The burial will follow in Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Abbeville, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 2:00 until 3:00 PM in the social hall at The Due West ARP Church prior to services.
Memorials may be made to the Due West ARP Church, 112 N. Main St. Due West, SC 29639.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
Online condolences may be sent to www.chandlerjacksonfh.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. James M.Newman

ABBEVILLE, SC — Rev. James M. Newman, 82, of 1256 Haigler Street Ext., Abbeville, husband of Jeane Ankerman Newman, died Thursday, June 29, 2006, at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital. He was born in Columbia, SC to the late Charles E. and Mattie Mattox Newman. After serving his country during WWII in the US Navy, he served the Lord as a Baptist Minister for over 45 years; pastoring churches in Iron Station, NC; Honea Path, SC; and Ridgeville, SC. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Abbeville.
Surviving Rev. Newman is his wife of the home; one daughter, Sandra N. Martin and her husband Robert of Abbeville; two sons, Richard Newman and his wife Debra of Philadelphia, PA; and Douglas Newman and his wife Deborah of Greenwood, SC, six grand-children, and seven great-grand-children.
Funeral services are 11:00AM Saturday, July 1, 2006 at the First Baptist Church of Abbeville with the Rev. Reiny Koschel officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions in memory of Rev. Newman may be sent to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 825, Abbeville, SC 29620 OR to a charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the Newman family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville, is assisting the Newman family.
PAID OBITUARY

Bob Poore

Robert Calvin “Bob” Poore, 88, of Magnolia Manor, widower of Virgie Bell Gibson Poore, died Friday, June 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Calvin and Mattie Lou Hartness Poore. He was the retired owner of the second generation of Poore Electric, a former member of the Moose Lodge and a member of Tranquil United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Ann P. McMahan of Atlanta; three sons, Wayne Poore, William Poore and James Poore, all of Greenwood; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Sunday at Tranquil United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Luke Mimms.
Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Bryan Poore, Chris Poore, Jason Stewart, Don Riggins, Bill Clinkscales and Mark Duvall.
Honorary escorts are Charlie McDade and Randy Manley.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to Tranquil United Methodist Church, 1702 McCormick Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

J.B. Powell

WARE SHOALS — J.B. Powell, 80, of 6 Circle St., husband of Eulala Small Powell, died Friday, June 30, 2006 at Hospice House of the Piedmont.
A native of Royston, Ga., he was a son of Bertha Powell. He was a World War II Army veteran and a member of Church of God of Prophecy.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Gary Powell of Hodges; a daughter, Betty P. Ashley of Hodges; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Services are 4 p.m. Sunday at Parker-White Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Larry McCall, the Rev. Dewayne Willis and Mark Lowe. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Mike Kernells, Don Hovis, Paul Bowen, Cecil Boggs, James Lyerly and Billy Small.
Visitation is 3-4 Sunday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Guy L. Prater

JOANNA, SC – Guy L. Prater, age 83 of 205 Laurens St. died Friday, June 30th at his home.
He was born in Batesburg, SC and was a son of the late Louie and Lillie Rikard Prater.
Mr. Prater was a member of the First Baptist Church of Joanna; the Joanna Men’s Club; played professional baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization from 1946 to 1950. He was retired from Greenwood Mills and was a US Army veteran of WWII.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara Willingham Prater of the home; four children, Cynthia P. Wright and husband Kenneth of Blowing Rock, NC, Timothy G. Prater and wife Dell of Pacolet, Melanie P. Young and husband, Calvin of Clinton, Kevin C. Prater and wife Andrea of Greenwood; nine grandchildren, Richard Landrum (Lanny) Wilson and wife Jamie, Lauren Wilson Greene and husband Sid, Tori Wright, Benjamin Guy Prater and Rachel Young Prater, Michael Calvin Young, Jr. and wife Marji, Allyson Marie Young, Nathaniel Prater and Christopher Prater, three great grandchildren, Kimberly Isabella (Ella) Young, Brett Mason Young, Kati Mac Greene; a brother, Hack Prater and wife Cat; two sisters, Marie Roebuck and Betty Nabors; seven nieces and nine nephews.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Rudolph Prater and Ralph C. (Snow) Prater.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, July 2nd at 3:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Joanna, burial in Rosemont Cemetery with Military Honors.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Men’s Sunday School Class and the Joanna Men’s Club members.
The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Joanna, 301 Magnolia St., Joanna, SC 29351 or Hospice of Laurens County, P.O. Box 178, Clinton, SC 29351.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton

Ruby Robinson

NORTH AUGUSTA — Ruby Robinson died Monday, June 26, 2006 at University Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Bessie Benson and Gus Waller. She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church and lived at Anne Maria Assisted Living Home for about 20 years.
Survivors include a sister, Mrs. John (Ozie) Davis of San Diego.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Beulah Baptist Church, with the Rev. Warren G. Gist presiding and Bishop Emanuel Spearman officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30.
Pallbearers are Chris Rucker, John Puckett, Bryant Sanders, Allen Rucker, Jason Puckett, Eugene McBride and Jerry L. Smith.
Flower bearers are nieces.
The family is at the home of Mary Puckett, 326 Ashcroft Drive, Greenwood.
Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.

Merle Schirm

Merle Schirm, 90, of 11 Royal Oak Drive, husband of Lorraine Moeller Schirm, died Saturday, June 24, 2006 at the home of a daughter in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Tempe Mortuary, Tempe, Ariz., is in charge.