From errands to school buses ...

Greenwood residents cope with the pinch at the pump

May 13, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
and JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writers

While most people are keeping a grocery list on the fridge to remind them of the much needed ketchup or milk, Gail Chrisley has started keeping a different kind of list.
As gas prices go back and forth, Chrisley has decided to cut back on the number of times she goes back and forth to Greenwood.
The Ninety Six resident makes a list of everything she needs to accomplish when she goes into town, and only does those things before turning around to complete the 18-mile round trip.
“I won’t go on vacation this year, either,” said Chrisley, who also carpools and picks up needed goods for neighbors. “I usually go to the mountains or the beach, but this is the first time I won’t go because of gas (prices).”
While people complain about gas at the pump, the rising costs also are beginning to be felt in other aspects of their daily lives.
Local volunteer agencies, law enforcement, food suppliers and schools are feeling pinched as gas prices in the Upstate reach an average of $2.65 per gallon for regular unleaded. That number is up almost 65 cents from this time last year, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
The Associated Press has reported that South Carolina lawmakers are considering a proposal supported by Gov. Mark Sanford that would temporarily suspend the state’s 16.8 cents-per-gallon tax on fuel. The suspension could save drivers a few dollars each time they visit the pump this summer.
But the breaks at the pump aren’t coming soon enough for Lakelands residents such as Bob Emily, who owns a window and siding business in Greenwood. He said his “phone has really slowed down” recently, adding that the prices will affect many aspects of the community, eventually.
“People will quit eating out in the restaurants because they’ll eat at home and put what’s left in their gas tanks,” Emily said. “You’ve got to go to work, and you’ve got to pick up the kids.”
When the prices are too high for their own pocketbooks, volunteers sometimes have to scale back their efforts to help others, said Sandra James, volunteer coordinator with HospiceCare of the Piedmont. James said volunteers are vital to the agency, which serves Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, McCormick and Saluda counties and relies on volunteers to travel to each of those counties to provide services.
“We’ve definitely seen a change, especially among our retired volunteers who are on a fixed income,” said James, adding that a few volunteers have called her to explain that they can’t make trips to Saluda or Clinton from Greenwood anymore because of gas prices.
“To become a volunteer now is expensive,” James added. “We are trying to look at our volunteers and where they live, and we are trying our best to put them (with patients) that are near their homes.”
The situation is similar at other volunteer-based agencies, and Diane Clifton, Meals on Wheels director, said rising gas prices could be keeping some volunteers from delivering more than one meal route. Clifton said volunteers are needed to deliver meals to clients on 18 routes in Greenwood each day.
“We’ve had volunteers say, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll still do it,’” Clifton said. “And others have said they don’t know how much longer they can do it, but those are few and far between.”
Meals on Wheels is an extension of the Piedmont Agency on Aging, and Clifton said the agency transports clients to medical facilities in the area, though she hasn’t heard of gas prices causing a reduction in those services.
“It is having an impact on the budget,” she added.
It’s having an impact on the Greenwood Police Department’s budget also, said Police Chief Gerald Brooks, who added that high fuel costs are straining the department to balance conservation against its duty to keep the city safe.
“It’s difficult to conserve gas and accomplish our goal. We certainly are not going to stop responding to calls, and we feel that the patrol (on city streets) is effective and makes for a safer community,” Brooks said.
But because the police department’s budget allots a specific amount for fuel, when gas prices rise, Brooks said the department has to look for other ways to cover the expense.
“When prices do like they have done, it’s tough because you plow through your gas budget at a faster rate than you can afford to,” he said. “It’s not uncommon to transfer money from one line (in the budget) to another ... but then we sustain a loss somewhere else in the budget.”
Those funds would be used for training, supplies and new equipment, Brooks said. “Somewhere, something has to give,” Brooks said.
What’s giving for Darrell Chrisley, husband of Gail Chrisley, is his four-wheel-drive truck.
Darrell said he has switched from driving his truck, which uses about 13 miles to the gallon, to his motorcycle, which gets about 50 miles to the gallon. He said he also tries to stay home more.
“I think they ought to leave them (the gas prices) alone and quit going up and down,” he said.
Sheree Hill, of Greenwood, said if airplane tickets had been as expensive as they are now when she and her daughter took a trip to New York in the spring, they probably would have opted for train tickets.
She said she sometimes thinks twice about going out again once she’s returned home from an errand but really can’t cut back how much she’s on the road.
“I just buy it and don’t worry about it because I really don’t have a choice. It’s just the two of us,” Hill said.
Greenwood Travel Agency Manager Lori Mulzer said airline ticket prices have been affected by rising fuel prices, though cruise line prices have yet to sail upward.
“I think the rising prices will have an effect on people’s travel plans,” she said.
Though James Agner, of Greenwood, is retired and said he has never stayed home because of gas prices, that doesn’t mean he won’t in the future.
“It doesn’t affect me, but younger people and people on a fixed income, I don’t see how they make it,” he said. “I really don’t.”
Even the school systems are feeling strained as costs skyrocket. Robert Riley, Greenwood School District 50’s director of transportation, said the school system has been forced to charge school groups more for use of the district-owned activity buses. The district now charges $1.10 per mile, he said, which is about 30 cents more than the charge this time last year. He said it was the first increase in price in years.
“Fuel is a big concern for everybody,” Riley said. “With newer equipment, plus the price of fuel, we felt like we had to go up (on the price) to be the same as the state’s price (for buses).”
But Ansel Smith, of Greenwood, said gas prices don’t affect him much because he drives only a few miles to work — and that’s where his car stays the rest of the day.
“I’m sure a lot of people do have to drive less, but it hasn’t affected me so far,” Smith said. “People are not showing it’s affecting them. Out there, it’s bumper to bumper every day.”

Opinion

Dedication and good work natural for Henry Thayer

May 13, 2006

When you think of people who have been integral to the life and times of Greenwood, many names come to mind. Many have left their marks on the growth and prosperity that have made the Emerald City a viable player in the economy of South Carolina over the years. Sometimes they are called “City Fathers.” Sometimes they are known as something else. Whatever they are called, Henry Thayer, Jr., surely was one of those.
Mr. Thayer, who died this week, would have been 90 years old on May 27. He had been retired for some time, but his business - Thayer’s - was, and is, a cornerstone of Uptown Greenwood. Mr. Thayer sold it to W. W. Wilson, Jr., several years ago and it remains a successful enterprise on the Square.

THROUGH THE YEARS MR. THAYER was a leader in just about every aspect of his hometown, serving in many offices, from the Episcopal Church to business to civic affairs to the social organizations and events that are contributors to the quality of life for the community.
He served his country in the U. S. Army in World War II and rose to the rank of major. There is one accomplishment, though, that speaks of service above and beyond the call of duty. Civic service. That was his devotion to the Greenwood Rotary Club and the many ways it works for the people of Greenwood and many other worthy causes. For 60 years, Mr. Thayer had perfect attendance. That kind of dedication is, in a word, remarkable.
Henry Thayer loved this community. That was obvious in everything he did.

HE WAS AMONG A GROUP OF caring “pioneers” that made all our tomorrows better because they gave their love, devotion and enterprise every day toward making Greenwood a better place to live and work.
They succeeded, too. This community is a living testament to people like Henry Thayer, people who took the opportunities they had and worked hard to give us so much more than they had.
It shows, too, in the buildings and dreams that make our community. It shows in places like Lander University, Piedmont Technical College, Self Regional Healthcare and all the other facilities that make us what we are. We owe them all a debt of thanks.

Obituaries

Latrinda Griffin

HODGES — Latrinda Lynn Griffin, 34, of 112 Athens Court, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of her parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Johnny Henderson, 16 Trey Lane, Ware Shoals.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals.

Micka Kerr

Micka Lou Kerr, 4-month-old infant daughter of Horace Wayne “Trai” Kerr III and Autumn Rachael Clauson Kerr of Pope Air Force Base, formerly of Greenwood, died Thursday, May 11, 2006.
Born at Pope Air Force Base in Cumberland County, N.C., she was a member of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church. Survivors include her parents; paternal grandmother, Tammy Moore of Laurens; maternal great-grandmother, Linda Clauson of Woodruff; grandmother, Jackie Rion of Greenwood.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Connie Maxwell Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Doug Kauffman. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in Connie Maxwell Cemetery.
Visitation is 2-3 today in the church parlor.
The family is at Ouzts Cottage, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, 205 Nixon Circle.
Memorials may be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, PO Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences please may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

George O. Lewis

CALHOUN FALLS — George O. Lewis, 68, of 801 Butler Ave., husband of Opal Ophelia Lewis, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Abbeville & White Mortuary Inc.