Local suspects sought
in Grier Street shooting

July 26, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Two Greenwood men who might have been “settling a score” are wanted by local police in connection with the firing of handguns into a crowd and the shooting of one victim, the local police chief said.
Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks identified the suspects as Venson Leon Edwards, 18, of 519 Wright St., and Tavon Drosett Morton, 19, of 506 Magnolia St. Warrants for their arrests were issued Tuesday.
Charges against the men are assault and battery with intent to kill, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and possession of a pistol by a person under 21, according to the warrants.
Brooks said Edwards and Morton are wanted in connection with a Tuesday morning shooting of a person who is in his early 20s. The victim suffered a single gunshot to the torso that could have damaged a lung, Brooks said. EMS took the victim to Self Regional Medical Center.
Greenwood police do not release crime victims’ names.
About 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to a Grier Street home to investigate a shooting. The first officers to respond did not find anyone at the home but found broken bottles in the roadway. Other officers found the victim at another house, a block away from the initial response scene, also on Grier Street.
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said the bloodhound team was called in about 1:04 a.m. For a brief time, the dogs followed the trail of a person who had jumped a fence, but it became more difficult to follow the trail because of the weather and heavy foot traffic in the area. The dogs, however, were able to find a ski mask.
From their investigation, police officers identified Morton and Edwards as suspects, Brooks said.
“From what we heard, this may have stemmed from a prior altercation. We’re not sure (the altercation) was the same day or even weeks before,” he said, “but it was between the victim and someone else who went to this neighborhood to settle a score.”
Brooks said there was a fight involving several people, and bottles were thrown and used as weapons. Some people involved in the fight used guns, and multiple shots were fired. As far as police know, just one person was hit by gunfire.
Warrants said two people got an unknown type of handgun and fired into a crowd, hitting the victim in the chest, with the bullet going through a lung and lodging in the victim’s back.
Five witnesses gave statements to police describing the incident, warrants said, and the victim identified one of the suspects through a photo lineup conducted by the police.
This is the second shooting on Grier Street this month. Grier Street is in the southeastern portion of the city, near Mathews Elementary School.
Two Greenwood men were arrested and charged in connection with the fatal July 1 shooting of a local man.
Greenwood police arrested McKenzie Dervana Holloway, 25, of 751 E. Northside Drive, Apartment G-4, Greenwood, and charged him with murder and attempted armed robbery. James Oliver Williams, 31, of 653 Grier St., Greenwood, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact of murder.
Authorities said George Dewitt Sellars, 31, of 525 Circle Drive, died at Self Regional Medical Center, two days after he was shot in the head.
Because of the increased amount of violence in the area, Brooks said more police patrols of the area were ordered.
“It had already come to our attention that there is more activity there,” the chief said, “so we increased patrols. Now it looks like we’re going to have to increase patrols even more.”
Anyone with information about the Tuesday morning shooting on Grier Street can call the Greenwood Police Department detectives (days) at 942-8407, the police department (after hours) at 942-8632 or Crimestoppers at 942-8727.

Greenwood concert leaves audience wet

After headliner no-shows, pool party offered to people

July 26, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Their fans were here and in the mood to party. But the Boyz weren’t.
Hip-hop recording artists Dem Franchize Boyz blew an opportunity to perform before 1,100 Greenwood fans Friday night, says the vice president for operations at the Greenwood Civic Center.
“They were paid to show up. They did not show up, and everybody blames us and the promoter,” Tracy Upton said. “The promoter did one of the best jobs I’ve seen in a long time (getting word out about the show). Their crowd was here, but the headliners did not show up.”
As a “make up” for the headline group not appearing at the 4 1/2 hour show, RRJ Productions is having a pool party and cookout for all ticket-holders at 2 p.m. Saturday at the R.L. Stevens Recreation Center on Seaboard Avenue.
The party is at the company’s expense. Promoter Reggie Johnson said Tuesday that he doesn’t have the money to refund people’s tickets — all ticket revenues are in the hands of Dem Franchize Boyz management.
Johnson said he wants to have the pool party and possibly a later show for ticket-holders to “keep the (company’s) name good.”
He cannot get money back from Dem Franchize Boyz because “I can’t get them to answer the phone; my lawyer can’t get them to answer the phone.”
It is the first time in a year as a promoter that he has worked with Dem Franchize Boyz, but Johnson said the group does not have a reputation for missing shows. “I think they’ve showed up at all their concerts,” he said.
The day of the pool party, Dem Franchize Boyz are scheduled to appear in Springfield, Ill., according to the group’s Web site.
There is a posting from Saturday night on the site’s message board asking why the group would “dis” Greenwood and not show up for the concert.
One upset ticket-holder called The Index-Journal and said he isn’t interested in “no (expletive) pool party.”
The Web site says Dem Franchize Boyz — Jizzal Man, Parlae, Pimpin and Buddy — are from the west side of Atlanta, where they grew up together. They formed the group while they were classmates in high school and college. The site features audio and video of the group’s hit “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.”
Their name, the Web site says, “offers that the group will be business minded along with their genuine representation of Southern living.”
“Business minded” is not the way Upton sees the recording artists.
“These were 1,100 fans that the Franchize Boyz did not show in front of because they chose not to show up,” she said. Of course, it spoiled the evening that generally was fun for the audience, Upton said.
“Everybody showed except the Franchize Boys,” she said. “There was a dance contest, dee jay and other groups. Kids were on stage. They had fun for 4 1/2 hours. It was a very well-behaved crowd. They were no trouble whatsoever. We had security here but there were no problems. ... Everybody did what they were supposed to do except the Franchize Boyz. The whole building shook for four hours.”
Most in the crowd were young people who accepted the fact that they would not be seeing the headliners that night, Upton said. In the days since, some parents have come to the Civic Center demanding refunds, but Upton said most understand the situation when it is explained.
Johnson said the crowd was “real rowdy” when one of his partners had to tell them Dem Franchize Boyz would not perform. But he said the crowd “left because officers were there. They calmed down pretty quick.”
Extra security was called for by officers on duty at the Civic Center, Upton said, when it became clear the show was over without the headliners ever taking the stage.
Dem Franchize Boyz were under contract to appear on stage at 10:30 p.m. Friday, Upton said. At 11:20 the promoters said the group was on its way from Atlanta, but by 12:30 a.m. group members were still en route and in Elberton, Ga. That’s when the decision was made to end the show.
It is just the second time in the eight years Upton can remember a civic center act — the first was a comedian who was a show’s headliner — being paid but not showing up. Upton said the situation was disappointing also because “we’re having such a good year.” Hometown favorites The Original Swingin’ Medallions will have a reunion concert Saturday night at the Greenwood Civic Center.
Of the Atlanta hip-hoppers who didn’t show, Upton said they should hear from their local fans through their Web site message board.
“There are plenty of people who want to be in their position; people who would pay millions to be in their position,” she said. “It is really sad to see it turn out the way it did.”

Incentives bring national retailers
to Greenwood to shop for locations

July 26, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

Businesses and department stores such as Target, T.J. Maxx, Best Buy, Marshalls and Home Depot are sniffing out Greenwood as a possible place to locate, and it’s not just because of the scenery.
Since January, the Partnership Alliance has been sending out information and offering incentives to commercial and retail businesses nationwide looking to expand or relocate.
Already, the new program has attracted 16 interested businesses that are strongly considering making the move. That’s up from the one business that was interested at this time last year.
Jeff Fowler, chief executive officer of the Partnership Alliance, said there are two types of incentive offers that assist with companies either using the “empty boxes” (vacant buildings) or building on “green fields” (unused land). He said the incentives could help improve the quality of life in Greenwood and surrounding counties by bringing in more jobs and making an economic impact, as Greenwood money would stay in the county.
“Our object is to show commercial and national retailers that the Greenwood market is larger than just Greenwood County,” Fowler said.
Filling ‘empty boxes’
The incentive programs involve attracting businesses to vacant retail stores — such as in Greenwood Mall, Greenwood Plaza, Kmart Plaza, Piedmont Plaza, Uptown Greenwood, Northgate Plaza, on Ninety Six Main Street and on Ware Shoals Main Street — with tax credits.
A minimum $250,000 development expenditure is required by the new business that can include architectural/engineering cleanup, demolition or site preparations and improvements.
Businesses that qualify can receive an annual credit for property tax as a percentage of tax increase for up to 15 years.
Fowler said electronic stores and “soft goods” (apparel stores) have been interested in the deal and have started biting on the offer. He said that when Wal-Mart’s lease runs out on its old building on the S.C. 72 Bypass, the building will be more aggressively sought on the market, as it will be less expensive to purchase.
“We’re trying to fast-forward the (growth) process,” Fowler said, adding that businesses such as call centers have looked into purchasing the “big boxes.”
“Instead of taking 10 years to make it happen, it will take five to six years,” Fowler said.
Planting on ‘green fields’
The Partnership Alliance also is attracting new businesses by offering assistance with infrastructure taxes and installation costs of sewer and roads for those wanting to build in the area.
Three businesses, which Fowler said include a national, name-brand electronics store and two name-brand soft stores, are looking to build in-between Old Navy and Dickinson Theater. A person working on the construction site at the corner of S.C. 72 and U.S. 25 said a Verizon Wireless store is being developed there. And nearby on the bypass, another Countybank is under construction.
Businesses locating here can look to the Partnership Alliance for possible incentives that could overcome concerns about market size.
“They all think the market in Greenwood is small,” Fowler said. “To entice them, we’re making it cheaper by helping with the infrastructure costs and rebating them on taxes ... (the growth) will prove a point and will attract other things.”
Fowler said the idea caught on a lot faster than anticipated with the assistance of local and national developers passing the word along. Office complexes, medical offices and hotels have been tempted by the offers.
The ultimate goal of the incentives, Fowler said, is to improve the quality of life, but that, in turn, must be done to attract the bigger businesses. Fowler said he hopes several businesses move to Greenwood and then attract others that see there is a market. He said that communities either are seen by developers as a Wal-Mart community or a fashion/shopping community.
“Greenwood is on the verge of moving from a Wal-Mart community to more of a shopping venue,” Fowler said. “... If you talk to people in the state, they say Greenwood is a hidden gem. I honestly think it’s a gem that’s getting ready to be discovered.”

Cornell Aiken

ABBEVILLE — Cornell Aiken, 76, of 1950 Old Douglas Mill Road, husband of Ruth White Aiken, died Sunday, July 23, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late Oliver Aiken Sr. and Annie Mae Holmes Aiken. He retired from Monsanto, Greenwood, working in the Shop, and was a member of Mount Zion AME Church, Hodges.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Glenese Aiken of the home; a son, Ronald Donaldson of Greenwood; a grandson reared in the home, Romeges Aiken of Abbeville; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Nathaniel (Margie) Nance and Mrs. George (Joretha) Milford, both of Due West and Mrs. James (Louise) Tolbert of Hodges; two brothers, Oliver Aiken of Promised Land and Fletcher Aiken of Greenwood.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at Mount Zion AME Church, Hodges, conducted by the Rev. Albert Thompson, assisted by the Revs. Clinton Hall, Jerome Nance, Judy Richardson, Jacqueline Aiken, Norris Turner, James Thompson and Milton Aiken. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Viewing is 1-8 today at Abbeville & White Mortuary.
The family is at the home.
Abbeville & White Mortuary is in charge.

Julia Campbell

MCCORMICK — Julia Jennings Campbell, 93, former resident of 141 Callison Hwy., widow of James Garland Campbell, Sr., died July 24, 2006 at National Healthcare of Greenwood.
Born in McCormick, July 27, 1912, she was a daughter of the late William Thomas and Sudie Holloway Jennings. She was a graduate of McCormick High School and was co-owner and operator of Campbell’s Grocery for 55 years. Mrs. Campbell was a member of McCormick United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two sons, James Garland “Joe” Campbell, Jr. and wife, Dale of Greenwood and William Bailey Campbell and wife, Nancy of Camden; four daughters, Bettye C. Hopkins of N. Augusta, Sue C. Brock of Greenville, Elaine C Baggett and husband, Curtis and Linda C. Kidd and husband Ronnie, all of McCormick; a sister, Mary Jennings Franklin of McCormick; eighteen grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Mrs. Campbell was predeceased by a son, Thomas Wayne Campbell and a daughter, Mary Faye Nance.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at McCormick United Methodist Church with Rev. Bobbie Taylor and Rev. Eldredge Kelley officiating.
Burial will be in the McCormick City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jimmy Hopkins, Joey Hopkins, Harold Brock, Tom Campbell, Jr., Jamie Campbell, Chris Campbell and Jason Turner.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 10:00 Thursday morning.
The family is at the home of Ronnie and Linda Kidd, 106 S. Maple Street and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 Wednesday evening.
Memorials may be made to McCormick United Methodist Church, PO Box 267, McCormick, SC 29835 or Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Campbell family.
PAID OBITUARY

Virgil Freeland

SALUDA, SC — Robert Virgil Freeland, 72, of 1910 Greenwood Hwy., died July 24, 2006 at his residence.
Born in Saluda County to Annie Mae Davis Freeland and the late James Furman Freeland, he was the husband of Virginia Rikard Freeland. He was a graduate of Saluda High School where he played football and he served in the United States Army where he played club football. Mr. Freeland was retired from Monsanto and he was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia Rikard Freeland of the home, his mother, Annie Mae Davis Freeland of Saluda, a daughter and son-in-law, Sherri (Freeland) and Randy Linsenbigler of Greenwood, two grandchildren, Joshua Samuel Lander Allen and Duston Robert James Allen both of Greenwood, two sisters, Francis Freeland Drummond of Greenwood and Judy Freeland Hallman of Saluda, a brother, Randy Freeland of Saluda and a special dog, Princess.
A brother, Eugene Freeland, preceded Mr. Freeland in death.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM, Wednesday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 3 PM, Thursday, July 27, 2006 at Good Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis Murray and Rev. Steve Justice officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, #3 Village Square, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to Humane Society.
PAID OBITUARY

Legare Kizer

GREENWOOD — Holcombe Legare Kizer, 87, of 201 Moore Street, husband of Phyllis Phillips Kizer, died Monday, July 24, 2006 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab, Edgefield.
Born in Harleyville, he was a son of the late David H. and Bertha Pendarvis Kizer. He was self employed and was a US Army veteran of World War II, where he was a recipient of the American Defense Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, Eamet Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, Good Conduct Medal and a Victory Medal. He served on the Abbeville City Council and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Abbeville, where he had served as president of the Men’s Club and chairman of the Administrative Board.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bob Kizer.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Bill McCabe of Greenwood; a son, Kevin Kizer of Greenwood; two sisters, Gloria Felkel of St. George and Jackie Knight of Harleyville; four grandchildren, Justin McCabe, Shannon McCabe, Jordan McCabe and Jackson Kizer; and his adopted family, Ronnie and Rita Davis, Amy and Joey Thompson, Ashley Davis, all of Greenwood and Nikki and Michael Parris of Ninety Six.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hyde Park Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy Thurston and the Rev. David Templeton officiating. Burial will be in Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lowndesville.
Pallbearers will be Ken Steadham, Charles Kizer, Ed Kizer, Bubba Knight, David Felkel and Len Reeves.
Honorary escort will be members of the Adult Sunday School Class of Hyde Park Baptist Church along with Bill Nicholson and Mike Byrd.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Mission Health and Rehab, 226 W. A. Reel Drive, Edgefield, SC 29824 or to the charity of ones choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Seafie B. Walker Sibert

ELGIN — Seafie B. Walker Sibert died Saturday, July 22, 2006.
Born in McCormick, she was a daughter of Josephus and Estelle Walker.
Survivors include six children, Mary Sibert, Sam Sibert, John Sibert Jr. and Leonard Sibert, Johnetta Lewis and Sharon H. Dille; three sisters, Mary Freeman, Ann Tucker and Nellie Harmon; 25 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at Greater St. Luke Baptist Church, Columbia. Burial is in Serenity Memorial Gardens.
Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home, Columbia, is in charge.

Joe Emmanuel Speares, Jr.

IRMO — Joe Speares went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, July 19, 2006.
He was the beloved son of Frances B. Speares and the late Joe E Speares, Sr.
He was the devoted husband of Evelyn Hoogenboom Speares and the loving father of 2 sons and 4 daughters, Peter Benjamin (Debbie) Speares, Daniel Scott (Olivia) Speares, JoLynn M. (Brian) Hardy, Jennifer Leigh (Tim) Lehman, Aimee Frances (Alan) Sanders and Mary Allison Collins; 2 grandsons, Joshua and Jacob Speares; 4 granddaughters, Maddie Collins, Maggie Hinz, Bailey Speares and Gracie Sanders. He was predeceased by his son, John Joseph Speares.
In addition he was the stepfather to Christina Ellison Shannon, Amy Ellison McCaw and Christopher (Robbie) Ellison and 8 step-grandchildren.
Joe graduated from T.L. High School in Anderson, SC and played football for the University of West Virginia. He served in the US Army in Germany. He served as Elder and Sunday School teacher for many years at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church in America, Landrum, SC and was currently a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in America, Columbia, SC.
He retired from Bell South in July 2002 with 33 years of service in Columbia, SC and Hendersonville, NC. Currently he was employed with Home Depot-Harbison.
Joe loved people and thoroughly enjoyed making people laugh. He shared his love for golf and his humor with many.
A Service was held at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 22, 2006, at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church with interment in Southland Memorial Gardens. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel at Bush River Memorial Gardens, was in charge.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 110, Columbia, SC 29204 or The Gideons International, Lexington Camp, PO Box 452, Lexington, SC 29072.
PAID OBITUARY

Hubert Williamson

WATERLOO -- Hubert Williamson, 80, of 1652 Relax Street, Waterloo, husband of Betty Hall Williamson, died Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at the VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late James Horace and Mattie Perry Williamson. He was the retired co-owner of Laurens Dry Cleaners and was a US Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church and the Men’s Sunday School Class.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Gloria Meekins and Tina Williamson.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Cheryl W. Lothridge of Waterloo; a son, Larry Williamson of Whittier, NC; a sister, Katherine Ridgeway of Spartanburg; two brothers, Wallace Williamson of Honea Path and David Williamson of Hickory Tavern; five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Graveside services, with military rites, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Rabon Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Hickory Tavern, with the Rev. Tony Crouch, the Rev. John Hetrick and the Rev. Herman Bradley officiating.
Honorary escort will be nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the home, 1652 Relax St., Waterloo, immediately following the service.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Lakeview Baptist Church, 107 Smith Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory of Greenwood is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Eliza Bell Wright

SALUDA — Eliza Bell Wright, 94, died Monday, July 24, 2006 at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Joe and Ada Culbreath Wright. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and longtime employee of the Connell family of New York.
Survivors include two children reared in the home, Dr. Fred Connell and Jane Connell, both of Seattle; four sisters, Laura A. Wright, Thelma Triplin and Christine Wright, all of Saluda and Annie Bell Chappelle of Greenwood; two grandchildren.
Services are at noon Thursday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Clarence Kenner. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 11.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are family and friends.
The family is at the home of a sister Laura A. Wright, 100 Pine St.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Failures make good case for fixin’ a broken U. N.

July 26, 2006

If a vote were held on whether the United Nations is worth what it costs to keep it operating, wonder how many South Carolinians would opt to keep it going.
It takes billions of dollars each year to keep the U. N. afloat. Furthermore, a huge part of its budget comes from American taxpayers. In spite of everything, though, the obvious ineffectiveness of the U. N. is more than disappointing.
It all began in Korea, of course, where nobody won. In fact, technically the war there has never ended. No peace treaty was ever signed. To add insult to injury, its failures have continued through the years in Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE U. N. uselessness is evident in the U. N. presence in Lebanon. It has had a “peace” force there for about 20 years. Still, heavy fighting between Hezbollah and Israel is violent proof that the U. N. has failed yet one more time. It has gotten to the point in the Hezbollah and Israeli conflict where some officials want a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force to replace the U. N. in the area.
How can the world - and the U. S. - continue to spend so much for so few positive results? “Diplomats” from all over the world assigned to the U. N. headquarters in New York City live, as they say, high on the hog. It’s in their interests, then, to retain the status quo. What that means should be obvious and also should be indicative of how a good idea has grown into a bloated worldwide bureaucracy whose primary mission is to perpetuate itself.

MEANWHILE, STRIFE IN THE world not only goes on, it continuously escalates ..... as do the costs that are so far out of proportion to the results.
In short, the U. N. is a failure. It has little influence as a body, although it does function as a forum for anti-American effrontery.
That means, of course, that we pay a lot of taxpayer money to be a whipping boy for those who use the U. N. to frustrate and criticize us at every turn.
The idea of the United Nations is good. The reality, though, is something else. Maybe it’s time to start over ..... or at least reorganize the U. N. The costs and the lack of positive results - for years - argue for change.