Tax hike snuffed out ... for now

Lawmakers confident cigarette bill will pass in 2008

July 8, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

After being left untouched inside Senate chambers without a vote, South Carolina’s first cigarette tax increase since the Carter administration will have to wait until at least the 2008 legislative session.
There are never any guarantees out of Columbia, and there are still debates remaining over just where the millions of dollars in increased revenue will actually be spent, but local lawmakers think the tax will pass — soon.
The issue has piqued the interest of many South Carolinians (some polls suggest more than 75 percent of South Carolinians are in favor of the tax) and sparked colorful discussions among politicians and business owners.
State Sen. John Drummond has been in favor of raising the tax for some years.
“I think the governor was totally against it, but that wouldn’t have stopped us,” Drummond said. “I don’t know what stopped it this year because that would have been a good thing — if (the added income) goes to health care. I still don’t know why we lost it. There are some (senators) that don’t want to raise any taxes, but I’m not a part of that group.”
The senators mentioned by Drummond indeed had threatened a filibuster — a seemingly endless period of often meaningless debate or speaking — that could have placed the new budget in jeopardy of not reaching a vote.
State Sen. William H. “Billy” O’Dell said that possibility was a major concern.
“By the time we were going to take it up, right at end of session, there were people prepared to filibuster,” O’Dell said. “In that event it would have tied the floor up. The budget was behind the cigarette tax, and the budget is the most important thing we do. That was the main concern, I think. It’s still on the (legislative) calendar; it just ran out of time this year.”
Another issue concerns the millions of dollars that will be raised as a result of the tax increase, or rather, the allocation of those funds. Lawmakers have varying opinions on where the money should be spent, with most split between either health care programs/benefits or income tax cuts.
The Senate version of the bill had an additional 15 cents added to the proposed 30-cent hike. The raise in the tax gave some lawmakers pause.
Would the additional 15 cents go to fund something else?
O’Dell and Drummond agree the money should go to health care.
“I would prefer to see it all go to health care,” O’Dell said.
“I’m a big supporter (of the tax increase) and I don’t mind anybody knowing it, but that money should go to health care,” Drummond said.
Both men think it’s only a matter of time before the state has a new cigarette tax that puts it in step with the rest of the country.
“It’s going to come back up and I hope that it passes,” Drummond said. “I think (the tax increase) had the support of the majority of the Senate — provided that the money went back into health care.”
“In a way, I was surprised because I thought it would pass this year,” O’Dell said. “The additional 15 cents might have been one thing. I would have preferred to keep it at 37 (cents) to keep us more competitive. We have to watch what our sister states (Georgia and North Carolina) are doing and not get out of line with what they’re doing. Even though we may not approve of smoking, we don’t want to put anyone out of business.
“The will to pass (a cigarette tax increase) is certainly there now, where it has not been in some years past. We’ll take it up early in 2008. It could come up at any time, and can be changed and amended. After the floor debate, anything can happen at that point. It just ran out of time this year.”

Five little girls on a journey of love

Five couples travel to China, adopt baby girls

July 8, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — Some of them are found in front of buildings.
Others are found in train stations and even flower gardens, but always in very public places.
Each year millions of newborn Chinese babies (nearly always girls) are abandoned by their parents. The children are victims of the government’s “one child only” law, which was enacted to help curb the population explosion.
One particular little girl was found on the front steps of a government building. She was quickly scooped up and taken to an orphanage. Like so many others, her parents had abandoned her.
But she had not been completely forgotten. Though she couldn’t have known it, there was indeed someone out there who loved her.
Thousands of miles away in South Carolina, Robin Cobb had felt a tug on her heart and a calling from God to participate in international adoption.
At the time, Cobb had no idea her own precious little girl had already been found.
It had taken awhile for the Cobbs — Robin, husband Paul, daughter Anna Kayla and son Land — to have that calling confirmed. But once it happened, there was no longer any doubt or hesitation. They would go to China.
“We didn’t know what God wanted us to do. We didn’t know if he meant for us to adopt or to help others to adopt,” Robin, who was raised as an adopted child, said Friday. “It was just a calling that God put on our hearts.”
So the family contacted adoption agencies for information and set up workshops at their church, Siloam Baptist. By the time the dust settled, there were three other Ninety Six couples — Lynn and Bobby Sargent, Ricky and Nancy Werts and Patricia and Houston Matthews — and one Greenwood couple — John and Kirby King — who would also travel to China to adopt.
After endless months of waiting, the families made the trip in April.
Suddenly, the long wait was over.
Once they arrived at their respective orphanages — several of the little girls were in the same orphanage — it only took a total of 15 minutes.
They were parents again, this time of beautiful Chinese daughters.
“Two years of waiting came down to just minutes,” Robin said. “Just that quickly, it was over. Then they told us that we better get going and get to know our baby to see whether we wanted to keep her or not.”
But there had never been any doubt they were going to be keeping their little girls.
Lynn and Bobby Sargent, already the parents of a 26-year-old daughter, Kristen, and an adopted son, Jeremiah (from Cambodia), were ecstatic.
“I went on a mission trip to China in 2000, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was either supposed to come back as a missionary or take a child home with me (through adoption),” Lynn Sargent said. “We’re just so thankful. If I were younger we’d have a houseful.”
Houston Matthews actually made the two-week trip without wife Patricia, who says her husband deserves “husband of the year” honors.
He’s not so sure he deserves all that much credit.
“There was nothing to it,” he said of the trip. “I mean, how many nannies did I have with me? I had plenty of help. But it was very difficult without her being there. That was very hard. We couldn’t wait to get back.”
Two months later, these five little Chinese girls are no longer anonymous.
Their names are Barbie Ruth Werts, Nancy Cooper King, Geordyn Belle Matthews, Clara Elizabeth (Clara Beth) Cobb and Rebekah Grace Sargent.
Once abandoned, now they have homes, families and futures.
“These are Southern girls,” Robin said. “They’re just from Southern China.”

School pride still strong for the Class of 1957

July 8, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Fifty years is, by most people’s standards, quite a long time.
Much can be accomplished over that span of time. Careers begin and are completed. Children are born and grow up, and then grandchildren come about. Wars are fought and ended, only to have new battles emerge.
But, as members of Brewer High School’s Class of 1957 have learned this weekend, when reminiscing about the time they spent in school together five decades ago, it can all seem like it just happened moments ago.
“What are you talking about, that seems like yesterday,” said class member Harold Johnson, who resides in Washington, D.C., as he snapped his fingers and laughed. “It has really rolled on. I hate to say it, but time has rolled past me.”
Johnson and 25 classmates have spent the weekend participating in the Brewer High School Class of 1957 50-year reunion. The group got together Friday night for a “reacquaintance” social, then spent Saturday evening enjoying each other’s company during a reunion banquet at JoAnne’s Hall of Events in Greenwood.
Some of the classmates still reside in Greenwood, while others came in from areas across the nation. Betty Thomas came the farthest, making the trip from California to participate in the reunion events.
The banquet saw the classmates join together in song and dance, as well as a dinner and a short program. Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson, a 1967 graduate of Brewer, was the program’s keynote speaker.
“You know, over time, everything changes,” Nicholson said. “But what I love so about Brewer is that the faculty, administrators and staff prepared us for those changes. They prepared us to go out into the world. I always said that you can be where you want to be, but it takes perseverance, discipline and attitude.”
Rebecca Kennedy, a 1957 graduate who has spent most of the last 50 years residing in Greenwood, said she was ecstatic to see some of her old friends again.
“This has brought me just a tremendous amount of joy,” Kennedy said. “I have been so enthused about helping make it happen. The anticipation of meeting with my classmates again has been so uplifting.”
Kennedy added that several members of the class went out to the site of the former high school — commonly referred to in Greenwood as Old Brewer Middle School — on Saturday morning for a tour and some reminiscing.
Charles Mathis, a 1957 Brewer graduate who worked for Greenwood School District 50 for a number of years before retiring, said the old high school is part of a unique stage of history.
“I’m proud of that. I’m proud to have been a part of that,” Mathis said. “And I’m glad that when they built the new (Brewer Middle) school, they kept the name Brewer. I have a grandson going to school at Brewer, and it makes me feel good that the legacy can live on.”

Obituaries

Lois Anderson

Lois Langley Anderson, 94, of 1105 McCormick Highway, and more recently at Magnolia Manor, died Saturday, July 7 at Self Regional Medical Center. Her funeral will be held on Monday, July 9, 2 p.m. at Tranquil United Methodist Church, 1702 McCormick Highway (Highway 10), Greenwood, with burial in the church cemetery. Reverends Luke Mims and James F. Patterson will be officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 1 p.m. in the church social hall.
Mrs. Anderson was born on October 4, 1912, in Greenwood to William Bert and Annie Ellis Langley, and was one of nine children. She attended the Greenwood College of Commerce.
Mrs. Anderson and her husband, Thomas Bryan Anderson, operated a neighborhood grocery store on the McCormick Highway for more than forty years. They were both active members of Tranquil United Methodist Church and the Brockwell/Clark Sunday School class.
Mrs. Anderson was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her beloved son, William Thomas Anderson, and seven siblings Kate Langley Edwards, Ernest Langley, Carroll Langley, W.C. Langley, Pauline Langley Botts, Estella Langley Jones, and Frances Langley Duvall.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Ann Anderson May and husband, John of Columbia, SC; a sister, Erma Langley Perrone of Wesley Commons in Greenwood; grandchildren, Cathy Anderson of Greenwood; Chris Anderson of Jacksonville, Fl; Bryan May of Lexington, SC; Jonathan May of Columbia. Mrs. Anderson also leaves six great-grandchildren, Caitlin and Tommy Davis, Zack and Alexa Anderson, Sara Gates and Anderson May; many nieces and nephews that she adored.
Pallbearers will include Steve Anderson, Ronnie Anderson, Dennis Davenport, Harold Davenport, Ellis Langley, Joe Langley, and Benji Simmons. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Brockwell/Clark Sunday School class.
Blyth Funeral Home is serving the family.
Memorials may be made to Tranquil United Methodist Church, 1702 McCormick Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.

Ruby Dorn

Funeral services for Ruby Lowery Dorn will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Fred Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Lewie King, Bob Rush, C. Brown, Danny Polatty, Billy Coursey and Wade Mitchell.
The family will receive friends at funeral home before the service on Monday from 10-11 a.m.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 2107 Mt. Moriah Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Mrs. Dorn, 96, of 2909 Hwy 25 South, widow of Ben Haskell Dorn, died Saturday, July 07, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Saluda, she was the daughter of the late Mark and Pauline Reams Lowery. She retired from Greenwood Mills where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club and a member of the Mathews Heights Community Club. Mrs. Dorn was a member of First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
She was predeceased by her first husband Ernest Wise, a son Haskell Dorn, and a sister, Ruth Thomas.
Surviving is a niece, Gayle Bedgood of Swainsboro, Ga. and a number of cousins.
Online condolences may be sent to the Dorn family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Lillie Mae Harrison

McCORMICK — Lillie Mae Harrison, widow of James C. Harrison, died July 4, 2007, at Palmetto Richland Health Care. She was born in McCormick April 12, 1921, a daughter of the late William and Inez Ashmore Searles.
She was a member of Springfield AME Church where she served as Mother of the church, an usher, Adult Sunday School teacher, a member of the Steward Board and Missionary Society. She was also a member of the Women’s Home Aide Society No. 1 and the Bethany Chapter No. 1 Order of Eastern Star.
Survivors are one daughter, Peggy Harrison of Columbia, and a Goddaughter, Gwen Chiles of McCormick.
Services are Monday at 2 p.m. at the Shiloh AME Church with the pastor, Rev. James Louden, III and the Rev. Derrick Stewart officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Monday.
The family is at her home 1954 Troy Road.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

‘Bob’ Ousley

Robert Walker “Bob” Ousley, 57, resident of 216 Crestmont Drive, died July 6, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Curtis T. Robinson

DONALDS — Curtis T. Robinson, age 82, formerly of 6 Tribble Road, Donalds, died Thursday, July 5, 2007, at the Seneca Health & Rehab Center. He was a native of Abbeville County and was the son of the late Timothy Rufus Robinson and Laura Stukey Robinson. He was a member of Dunn Creek Baptist Church of Ware Shoals.
He is survived by one sister, Julia M. Hawthrone of Donalds.
Funeral services will take place Monday at 11 a.m. at Holloway’s Funeral Home Chapel. No wake is planned. Burial will follow at the Dunn Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is at the home of his sister, Julia M. Hawthrone, 20 Tribble Road, Donalds.
Holloway’s Funeral Home Inc., Belton, is in charge of arrangements.

Al Stone

Funeral services for Robert Alston “Al” Stone will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at South Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Ray Boggs and the Rev. James Young officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Lin Smith, Stephen Petrus, Eric Petrus, Rodney Stone, John Williams and Donnie Richardson.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Helping Hands Sunday School Class.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Sunday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Mr. Stone, 76 of Mathews Heights, widower of Colleen Whitfield Stone died Saturday, July 07, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Hartwell, GA, he was a son of the late Tillman and Della Whitehead Stone. He retired from Winn’s Shoe Store and was a Mason. Mr. Stone was a member of South Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church where he was in the Helping Hands Sunday School Class.
Surviving are two daughters, Carla Santiago and Gail Petrus and her husband Ken all of Greenwood; a brother, Ralph and wife Margie Stone of Seneca; four grandchildren, Eric Petrus, Hunter Santiago, Ashley Smith and her husband Lin, all of Greenwood and Stephen Petrus of Simpsonville; two great-granddaughters, Jordan Petrus and Savannah Smith and a step great-grandson, Tyler Smith.
Online condolences may be sent to the Stone family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Ralph C. Yingling

Services for Ralph Clair Yingling will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2007, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the Bishop Douglas Pennock officiating. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Ledford, Tim Davis, Eric Yingling, Ronald Lucas, Jason Yingling and Jim Wessinger.
Honorary escort will be Bo Patterson, Michael Johansen, Lee Davis, Matthew Wessinger, Austin Yingling, Dylan Yingling, Jim Wessinger Jr., Matthew Davis, Bill Bowen, Addison Saba, Hal A. Thompson and James Hardy.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Wednesday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home, 110 Sanders Avenue in Greenwood.
Mr. Yingling, 70, husband of Alice Marie Mattson Yingling, died Thursday, July 5, 2007, at his home.
Born in Charlotte, NC, on October 30, 1936, he was a son of the late Ralph Clair Yingling, Sr. and Mary A. Thompson Pierce Yingling. He was retired as a Greyhound Bus Lines agent and as manager of the Greenwood Bus Station. He was involved with the YMCA, the Jaycees, was a member of the Race Relation Council of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and coached basketball, baseball and swimming. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he was a past President, Elder, High Priest, Ward Clerk for 33 years and a Temple worker.
Surviving is his wife of 51 years of the home; four sons, Ralph F. Yingling and David Dahlgren Yingling, both of Greenwood, Matthew Clair Yingling of Columbia and Gary Mansfield Yingling of Seattle, WA; five daughters, Lorelei Elizabeth Ledford of Spartanburg, Mindy Lou Wessinger of Liverpool, NY, Joann Thompson of Tallahassee, FL, Catherine Kimberly Gregg of Newport, NC and Carol Lynn Davis of Greenwood; one sister, Lucy Ritorto of Torrance, CA; twenty-five grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be sent to the Yingling family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Opinion

Several threats to U. S. keep on trying our will

July 8, 2007

There are members of the military from Greenwood and the Lakelands area serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with thousands of other Americans. They are putting their lives on the line. As long as the United States adheres to a policy where “rules of engagement” prevent them from winning, not much is likely to change. And that’s worrisome.
There are many Americans, to be sure, who have strong beliefs that diplomacy will be the key to the whole confusing conflict. Being kind to radicals who have one goal - to kill Americans - leads nowhere. Turning the other cheek just doesn’t work with Islamic extremists, although many of our leaders seem to firmly believe that if we’re nice to our enemies our enemies will be nice to us.
It just doesn’t work that way. History proves it too many times to have such faith.

A COUPLE OF THREATS provide good examples. Sooner or later - probably sooner - we’re going to have to do something about them. As it is, Iran and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez also are leaving no doubt about their intentions.
Iran, of course, is supplying terrorists all over the Middle East with the means of war. Chavez is buying huge piles of military equipment. He is buying fighter planes, automatic weapons, and is seeking submarines from Russia. Both are serious hate-America activists.
We know what they are and what they are doing. We should know, too, that diplomacy is not in their vocabulary. Add Russia’s Vladimir Putin to the list, too. Sooner or later we’re going to have to take all of them for the threats they are.

THEIR HOSTILITY IS NOT conducive to anything but conflict ..... armed conflict. If we continue to avoid the truth, the situation can only get worse.
They think, no doubt, that because we are free people and don’t like war that automatically makes us weak. Consequently, they test that theory with one antagonistic effort after another.
Unfortunately, that’s the way dictators think. They’ll continue to be aggressive and test our resolve - our “weakness” - until they are stopped. They may think the anti-war attitude of some Americans is a sign of weakness and we’ll cave in.
Eventually we’ll have to prove them wrong. First though, President Bush and his advisers will have to face the fact that Iran, Chavez, Putin and others are real threats to us and world peace. The sooner they come to grips with that reality the better.