For the love of barbecue: Teams ready for cookoff

July 15, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

He was one-thousandth of a point away from winning grand champion in a backyard barbecue competition this year.
In the first competition he ever cooked in, he placed in all four categories.
His tallest trophy is almost as tall is he is.
Nine-year-old Levi Mason and 7-year-old brother Dylan have grown up watching their father, George “Redneck” Mason, win trophy after trophy as they travel the East Coast every weekend competing in barbecue competitions with George’s Redneck BBQ Cook Team.
Then the two decided it was their time to turn the meat.
“I prepped it and made all of my own spices myself,” Levi said. “Dad handled the meat on the fire, but I tell him when to take it in and out.”
George’s St. Cloud, Fla., team is one of the more than 40 competing in the South Carolina Festival of Discovery Barbecue and Hash Cookoff today in Uptown Greenwood.
And to the relief of some competitors, Levi and Dylan won’t be competing in this event.
George said some of the adults complained in prior competitions when the boys won. They said George had actually done all the cooking, but the dad maintains that he only handles the meat on the fire at the boys’ instruction, and that he gains nothing but teases from his friends when the boys come away with larger backyard trophies than he does in professional competitions.
“Everyone thinks it’s great, other than the ones who are complaining,” George said. “And I don’t care because, when he gets to be my age, he’s going to kick everybody’s (expletive).”
George tells his sons it takes more than money to stay in the barbecue business full time.
“You gotta do it, not for the money, but for the love of barbecue,” he said. “All the teams have good barbecue — it’s like any acquired taste; it’s all about preference. Just like driving a Ford, Chevy or Dodge, everybody’s got it a little different, but you gotta do it for the love of barbecue.”
The little guys, who want to be bull riders or barbecue cooks when they grow up, aren’t the only faces behind the barbecue that are surprising.
Doctors, lawyers and even Clemson University professors can be found kissing lucky pigs from behind the hot, steamy grills they use to create their secret masterpieces.
Steve Wainscott is director of the Honors College at Clemson University. He said he got into barbecue after “not being good at everything else I do.”
His team, Sue E. Pigg, is named after his wife, Sue, and is made up of other Clemson staff members.
Over the years, Wainscott said he has learned about injecting the meat, cutting and massaging it just right.
“I guess I’ve learned not to get upset if you don’t win,” he said. “Our goal is to go out and win enough every time to pay for the entry fee and for the next tournament.”
Rooster Roberts, of Arcadia, Fla., doesn’t have a goal or a technique to his award-winning barbecue for Big Daddy’s Butt Rub. Having been featured on the cable TV’s Food Network and after winning prizes in “the best of the best” competition in Georgia, Roberts said he follows the same routine every competition.
“At five o’clock, I take a shot of whiskey to calm my nerves and then I start cooking,” said Roberts, who makes all of his own rubs and sauces from spices that come from his own spice company.
And that’s about the only method to Roberts’ success. In fact, he once won first place in the brisket category, making it the first time a Texan had not won in 22 years, and he couldn’t remember what he put into the brisket.
“Now everybody stands around me and writes it down,” George said.
Lisa Roberts, George’s wife, said she enjoys barbecue competitions because of the community-like atmosphere associated with all the nick-naming and fun the competitors have with one another.
“Everybody gets along with everybody,” she said. “Even though we’re competing, if you run out of something, or need a pair of gloves, they are more than happy to help you.”
The Barbecue and Hash award ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. today. In addition to the Taster’s Choice award, competitors will be given a total of $8,000 in awards for different categories.

This is the real-life ER
— without any commercial breaks

July 15, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

His white lab coat doesn’t even have two whole weeks of wrinkles in it yet.
But underneath the formality of the bleached-white coat that hangs down to the new doctor’s mid-thigh, resides 26-year-old Houston Davis.
Fresh out of medical school at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Davis begins his transition into the medical field at Self Regional Healthcare’s Family Medicine Residency Program. With his tiny hemp necklace peeking out from under the collar of his uncharacteristic button-up shirt, the “T-shirt and shorts” kind of guy is adjusting to the formalities and responsibilities of his profession.
“At first, I had trouble introducing myself as Doctor Davis,” he said.
“It just sounds so weird. But I’m more conformable in that role now and I can introduce myself as Doctor Davis, and I like wearing the white coat.”
After a year of following interns during his last year of medical school, Davis is getting to be the one who calls the shots. But with that job comes responsibilities that are difficult to prepare for, such as telling patients “no” when they ask for extra time off work because of a cold.
“I don’t like bad news, and it’s a hard thing to learn to give somebody that news — that there’s nothing we can do to help them and they’re just going to be in pain,” Davis said.
“People don’t like to hear that, and it’s not an easy thing to do,” he said.
During his second week in the emergency room, Davis said he is realizing that the dramatic environment is more than he would want to work in on a regular basis, and that he will most likely enjoy the family practice instead. Though he admits he occasionally catches an episode of the TV show ER, he said the real life department is not as exciting.
“I think on ER they focus on the cool stuff because you always see them rolling in the room with a trauma patient or a patient with some weird prognosis,” he said. “That’s the minority of cases that come into the ER. We see a lot of sprained ankles and sick babies — things you would see in family care.”
One thing the doctor has learned is that not all the classic “presentations,” or warning signs, of things such as heart attacks and diabetes hold true. For instance, someone having a heart attack might not have pain radiating through his left arm, Davis said, but could just have weakness of breath or nausea.
As he moves on in the next few weeks to the following rotation of his residency, Davis said he wishes he could spend more time in the emergency room so he could be exposed to more trauma situations.
“The best part, especially in ER, is when someone comes in and, from their history, it sounds like something serious, but then it turns out it’s something simple,” he said. “Then a lot of it is just easing their fears and making them feel better and you don’t have to give them drugs or cut them open to make them feel better. You just console them.”
Davis, who attended Ware Shoals High School, said he hasn’t come across anything too unusual yet, but there are still more than 50 weeks left in his residency. But after the first couple of weeks, Davis said he’s already feeling the change.
“When I’m hanging around, I wear a T-shirt and shorts,” he said. “Now, all of the sudden, I feel like maybe it’s not appropriate to wear T-shirts to Wal-Mart anymore. I still wear shorts but I wear a collared shirt now.”
You can follow Houston’s journey each Saturday in The Index-Journal.

Obituaries

Ruby Ashley

Honea Path — Ruby Inez Hodges Ashley, 81, of 4 Rose Wood Dr., Greenville, formerly of Keowee Rd, widow of Benjamin Donald Ashley, died Thursday, July 13, 2006 at Abbeville Hospital.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late William Earl and Myrtle Carter Hodges. She was a member of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.
Surviving are one son Claude Earl Ashley of Greenville, three Brothers, James Hodges, Elmer Hodges, and Jody Hodges all of Ware Shoals, three grandchildren, Leah Ashley of Greenville, 2nd Lt. Sarah Ashley of Ft. Sam Huston, TX, and Jacob Ashley of Greenville; and three great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by a son, Don Ashley, Jr.
Graveside services will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Rickey Knight officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Anderson Salvation Army 112 Tolly St. Anderson SC 29622. The family is at the home, 4 Rose Wood Dr., Greenville. Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Judy Broome

McCORMICK — Judy White Broome, 64, of 3061 Upper Mill Road, died Friday, July 14, 2006 at her home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.

Mary K. Flowe

GREENWOOD — Mary K. Flowe, 47, resident of 1205 McCormick Highway died Thursday, July 13, 2006 at the home of her mother.
Born in Greenwood County March 25, 1959, she was a daughter of Nita Batton Flowe and the late John M Flowe, Jr. A graduate of Cambridge Academy and the University of South Carolina, she was formerly employed by Capital Bank and was a licensed massage therapist.
A member of the First Presbyterian Church, she was also a member of the Sertoma Club and was a volunteer with Meals On Wheels. She was also an active volunteer in the Leukemia Society and the Carolina Blood Bank and was actively involved in productions at the Abbeville Opera House for many years.
Mary K. was predeceased by two brothers, Thomas and James “Jimmy” Flowe.
Surviving in addition to her mother are a brother John M., III “Chip” and wife Cynthia Steffens Flowe of Severna Park, MD; a nephew, Ethan and niece, Katy Flowe, of the home; nieces, Sara and Melissa Flowe and nephew Austin Flowe of Severna Park, MD; a special friend Steve Payne of Elgin.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 PM Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Mayo, Rev. Tommy Cartledge and Dr. George Wilson officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Randy Flowe, James Batton, George Melonas, Stratton Melonas, James J. Shaffer and Steve Payne.
Honorary escort will be the Alumni of Cambridge Academy and the Abbeville Opera House players along with Janice and Ernie Sumner, Susie and Rich Goodwin, Jean and William John Park, Sally and Charlie Rogers and Dr. George Cone.
The family is at the home of her mother, 1207 McCormick Highway and will receive friends at the funeral home from 3-4 Sunday afternoon and also immediately following the graveside service.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the charity of one’s choice.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Flowe family.
PAID OBITUARY

Albert Ridlehoover

GREENWOOD — Jesse Albert Ridlehoover, 90, resident of 1408 Parkwood Road, formerly of Bradley, husband of Vera Dalton Ridlehoover died July 14, 2006 at the Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born November 15, 1915, in Edgefield, he was a son of the late Jesse Clifton and Ella Jennings Ridlehoover. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School and Troy Business College of Troy, NY. He served in the US Army during World War II in France and Germany and was retired from the US Postal Service. He worked on antique clocks and was an avid gardener. He was a former member of the Greenwood County Beautification Commission and a member of Horeb Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Training Union Director for a number of years.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 67 years of the home are three sons, John and wife Jacquoline Ridlehoover of Travelers Rest, Joe and his wife Ann Ridlehoover of Greenwood and Larry and his wife Margaret Ridlehoover of Columbia; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; three brothers, Irvin Ridlehoover, formerly of Bradley now living in Greenwood, Eugene Ridlehoover of McCormick and Glenn Ridlehoover of Bradley.
He was predeceased by a grandson, Charles Ridlehoover and three brothers, Leo, Milton and Walter Ridlehoover.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 PM at Horeb Baptist Church with Rev. Bennie Ridlehoover and Rev. Richard Ridlehoover officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roger Dillashaw, John T. Bannister, Mark Richardson, Billy Watson, Wayne Ridlehoover, Marshall Ridlehoover, Frank Ridlehoover and Steve Ridlehoover.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1:00 PM where the family will receive friends from 1-2 PM.
The family will be at the home of his son, Joe Ridlehoover, 109 Rosemont Drive, Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to Horeb Baptist Church, 112 McCormick Highway, Bradley, SC 29819 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 in memory of Mr. Ridlehoover.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Ridlehoover family.
PAID OBITUARY

Opinion

‘Earmark’ spending costs piled on U. S. taxpayers

July 15, 2006

Every taxpayer in South Carolina should be aware of a costly and growing habit in Congress called “earmarking.” It’s costing them plenty.
That may not sound all that menacing. Don’t be deceived. It is a practice that federal lawmakers have just about turned into a science. “Earmarking” allows legislators to insert language directly into spending bills to fund their own “special” projects, which are very often contributors to the pork-barrel spending that takes taxpayers to the proverbial cleaners.
As in most things, there are legitimate projects funded by earmarks. Overall, though, it’s a system that is used by some legislators to curry favor with their constituents by spending their money on wants, not necessities.

IT’S NOT A PROBLEM THAT’S created just by Democrats or Republicans. Both do it, and they do it big-time. Which “earmark” spending is the most depends on which party is in the majority.
In fact, according to The Campaign Legal Center, the number and funding of earmarks grew by leaps and bounds over the past decade or so. Information the Center compiled from the Congressional Research Service shows the total number of earmarks went from 4,126 in fiscal year 1994, to 15,877 in fiscal year 2002 ... a jump of 400 percent. In terms of funding associated with those earmarks, the totals have risen from $23.2 billion in 1994 to $64 billion in fiscal 2006. Earmarked dollars have doubled since 2000 and almost tripled in the last 10 years.

TOO MANY OF THESE “PET” projects too often are expensive, unnecessary and wasteful, like so much other spending in Washington. Example: The so-called “Bridge to Nowhere.” That bridge cost $315 million and it connected an Alaska town of fewer than 8,000 people to an island with only 50 residents. It served a useful purpose, though. It helped focus the spotlight of public scrutiny on the earmarking boondoggle.
The system needs to be reformed. It appears there will be efforts to accomplish that, but don’t take anything for granted. Tell Rep. Gresham Barrett and Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint true reform is needed, not some Wizard of Oz trick coming from behind a drawn curtain.

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