CPW makes offer

New park proposal would deed land to county for $4 million, water lines

July 31, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A week after having a proposal for a mixed-use park at the old Grace Street Water Plant site shot down during a combined meeting with Greenwood County Council and Greenwood City Council, CPW came back Monday with a new proposal that would deed all 54 acres to the county.
However, under the new proposal, the land would come at a price.
As revealed in an emergency called meeting Monday in the CPW boardroom, Commissioners of Public Works is asking county council to issue bonds in the net amount of $4 million, which would be used to extend water service lines and fire protection to areas of Greenwood County that do not currently have those services.
After the construction of said lines, they would be conveyed by the county to CPW to operate.
In exchange for the construction of $4 million of water lines, CPW says it will convey the entire 54-acre Grace Street Water Plant property to the county by quitclaim deed, as is, with no conditions attached.
Under the proposal, the locations of the proposed water service lines would be mutually agreed upon by the county and CPW. CPW board chairman Henry Watts discussed the proposal.
“The community would get a park; the county would get much needed fire protection in rural areas; the citizens would get quality drinking water and improved land values,” Watts said. “The CPW would get additional water lines and new customers to help cover the costs of operating the CPW’s water system.”
The proposal comes as a departure from the commissioners’ decision nearly three weeks ago to consider selling the Grace Street land that had previously been offered up as a donation for the creation of a public park. That decision touched off a public outcry, with many who had been lobbying for a Grace Street park for nearly a decade desperate for the utilities provider to reverse its decision.
Much of the debate came to a head last Tuesday, when hundreds of residents packed the aforementioned combined meeting. At that meeting, county council agreed to accept the land and all liability and maintenance that came with it.
Parks commission chairman Billy Nicholson, who was present at Monday’s emergency called meeting, expressed his initial thought on CPW’s new proposal.
“I’m not a decision maker for county government,” Nicholson said. “It would be (council’s) decision whether or not to issue those bonds. But as chairman of the parks commission, I’m in favor of any plan that would provide for all 54 acres to be used as a park. I think it is positive from that aspect, but I can’t speak for the county.”
County council chairman Robbie Templeton was not impressed upon his first knowledge of the new proposal.
“To me, water in rural communities and the Grace Street park are two separate issues,” Templeton said. “The county and the public works committee are already working on a proposal to provide water to rural fire stations at a cost far less than ($4 million). As of now, our position is the same as it was when we voted last week. It has not changed.”

Local man arrested at police station

July 31, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

While soliciting a prostitute is illegal and highly ill-advised at any time or location, it is especially unwise to do so at a police station.
It’s a lesson one Greenwood man reportedly learned the hard way over the weekend.
Greenwood Police Department arrested Larry Wayne Boyd, 65, of 607 Hollingsworth Road, Greenwood, and charged him with solicitation of prostitution.
According to police reports, Boyd came to the police department Saturday afternoon to turn in a woman who Boyd said had drugs in her possession. He said the woman was sitting in his Jeep.
Officers reportedly talked to the woman and asked if they could search her and her purse. They reportedly found no drugs.
The woman said she was walking along Seaboard Avenue when Boyd — who she said she had met once before — came along and picked her up and asked her if she wanted to get “a few drinks.” She told officers she and Boyd rode out in the county so Boyd could speak with a man about some money.
The woman said that’s when Boyd drove back into town to the police station. Officers reportedly asked the woman if there had been a negotiation for sex in exchange for money, and she said there had not.
Officers went back and talked with Boyd again, who then said the woman had smoked crack in his car. Officers then spoke with the woman about this.
While that was going on, a couple came to the police station to speak with officers about a shelter. While the husband of the couple was speaking with an officer, Boyd apparently struck up a conversation with the wife.
The wife reportedly approached Lt. David Gurley and told him Boyd had just solicited her for sex. She said Boyd had started the conversation by telling her he was a police informant who had helped arrest two prostitutes the night before.
The woman reportedly told Boyd she was looking for money and a place to stay. The wife said Boyd asked her if she wanted to “go down the street and make some money.” She told him she did not, then told Gurley what Boyd allegedly said.
Officers spoke with Boyd, who reportedly admitted he asked the wife if she wanted to “go down the street and make some money.” When asked what he meant by that, Boyd reportedly said “sex for money.”
Officers arrested Boyd and took him to Greenwood County Detention Center.

Obituaries

Walt Carter

McCORMICK — Mr. Walt Carter of Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick, SC, died Saturday at his residence. He was 71.
A native of Guelph, Ontario, Mr. Carter had retired from the U.S. Air Force. He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye Doggett Carter.
He is survived by his daughter, Fairleigh Desilva.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Chandler’s Funeral Service, 91 UN St., Liverpool, Nova Scotia, (902) 354-4242. Interment will follow in the White point Cemetery, White Point, Nova Scotia.
Beggs Funeral Home, 200 May Ave Lincolnton, GA,. is in charge of local arrangements, (706) 359-4117.
Sign the guestbook at www.beggsfuneralhome.net.

Geneva Wiley McCurry

CALHOUN FALLS — Mrs. Geneva Wiley McCurry, age 79, of 517 Barnwell Street, entered into rest on Sunday, July 29, 2007 at the HospiceCare of the Piedmont in Greenwood.
Mrs. McCurry was the daughter of the late Jody Wiley, Sr. and Sally Butler Wiley. Mrs. McCurry was preceded in death by her husband, Winfred E. McCurry, her brothers Franklin and Mabry Wiley and sister Lois Pinson. She was a member of Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Survivors include her daughter Ann Whidby and husband, Wayne of Calhoun Falls; son Terry McCurry and wife, Nancy of Greenwood; brothers James Wiley of Lowndesville, Otis Wiley and Jody Wiley, Jr.. of Abbeville; sisters Frances Brown and Vera Leverette of Calhoun Falls and Mary Hall of Abbeville; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 at Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Calhoun Falls Funeral Home.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646. The family will be at 203 Burton Drive, Calhoun Falls, SC.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Geneva W. McCurry.

Opinion

Each of us can be part of efforts to ‘improve’

July 31, 2007

The Partnership for a Greater Greenwood County & Economic Alliance is beginning a campaign to recruit more retail businesses to the Greenwood area. People are being asked to tell them what kind of businesses they’d like to see come here.
That should present no problem. From past comments many people would like, among other things, another department store and more merchants in the mall.
A couple of other things mentioned by John Lowery, Partnership director of marketing, also would help everyone. That’s adding to the retail sales tax base and keeping local money that’s now spent in other places.

THERE’S ANOTHER EXTREMELY important factor. An enhanced retail presence, along with parks, schools, colleges, medical community, real estate, recreation and a good overall quality of life present an appealing picture to industries that might be looking to locate and bring more jobs to Greenwood.
The Partnership works all the time to make the Greenwood area an even better community than it already is ..... and it’s pretty darn good as it is. The rest of us can keep on working to do the same thing, too. Get involved in community improvement efforts, whether in a neighborhood or in general.
It’s great to have professionals working for everyone’s benefit, but it does not relieve any of us from the responsibility of joining the effort. Support what we have and help provide incentives for others to join us.

HELP THE GREENWOOD SHERIFF’S office and Greenwood City Police not only fight crime, but support their efforts to help prevent it. No one wants to move to any community where there is a problem with criminal activity, be it drugs, assaults, domestic abuse, or any other crime. Citizens’ efforts - and law enforcement support - are always helpful.
The same holds true for being a positive factor in school improvement activities and for joining all kinds of civic efforts that indeed improve the quality of life for all. Above all, shop locally.
One other thing. A church-going community, contrary to some naysayers these days, is always an attraction to people looking for a new place to put down roots ..... spiritually, educationally, socially, economically, recreationally and all the other factors that impact living. Fortunately, Greenwood has all the basics. That makes it easier for us all to “keep up the good work.”