City put in the spotlight

Chamber hosts State of City address

March 16, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Pride is a multi-faceted idea.
People take pride in their work, their religion, or especially in the South, their favorite football team. On Thursday, local civic leaders addressed several areas in which Greenwood residents can take great pride.
Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the State of the City address Thursday morning at Inn on the Square in Uptown Greenwood. Mayor Floyd Nicholson and city manager Steven Brown were keynote speakers, with assistant city manager Charlie Barrineau providing a slideshow presentation of facts and figures.
More than 100 people registered to attend the event, with business people, local politicians and the local dignitaries filling the Inn’s conference room to near-capacity.
Nicholson commented on the large crowd.
“I’m feeling a little pressure here this morning. I’m not sure if you’re here to crucify me and Steve (Brown) or what,” Nicholson joked, drawing a robust laugh from the crowd.
Nicholson said he likes the growth he has wtinessed in the city.
“I think Greenwood is a city we can be proud of,” Nicholson said. “I have confidence that there are many people working hard here for the entire city, community and county.”
Nicholson lauded the city as a municipality that has been a draw for retired citizens. However, he said steps must be taken to keep young people from moving away after they graduate high school or college.
“If we don’t retain these young people, the investments we have made here will be for nothing, because no one will be here to enjoy them,” he said.
Nicholson said the key to maintaining a healthy base of young professionals in Greenwood is to offer nice, affordable housing, employment, cultural experiences and educational opportunities.
Barrineau explained some of the ways the city has grown and plans to continue that progression. He said the city collected $760,000 in business license revenue in 2006.
The revenue from business licenses has increased 14 percent over the last five years. Barrineau said officials continue to market the city as a viable option to prospective developers.
Perhaps one of the most encouraging revelations Thursday was in the realm of public safety. According to statistics provided by Barrineau, since 1996 violent crimes — murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — within the city limits have decreased more than 51 percent. Also, property crime — breaking and entering, larceny and vehicle theft — is down more than 22 percent over the same period.
Barrineau also lauded the efforts of Greenwood Fire Department, which is ISO rated in the top 4 percent of fire departments in South Carolina. He added the department is set to purchase a platform ladder truck, which will come at a cost of nearly $1 million.
“Quality does not come cheap,” Barrineau said.
Barrineau said there are five catalysts supporting progress in the community. The first catalyst is West Cambridge Park, which has been a very popular destination for children and families.
The second is the city center master plan, which includes the Emerald Triangle Project. That project has been key in the refurbishing of the Greenwood Community Theatre, The Museum and the Federal Building.
The new county library, which will come at a cost of more than $10 million, is also part of the master plan. The library will be constructed on South Main Street.
The third catalyst Barrineau listed was the Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Center at Old Brewer Middle School. The fourth catalyst is the sports complex Lander University will be constructing off Montague Avenue.
“This complex will greatly enhance the quality of life for the residents of Greenwood,” Barrineau said.
The last catalyst is a proposed housing authority recreation project off Foundry Road. Barrineau said that project is still in its infancy.
Brown, who has been city manager for 22 years, credited a solid relationship with the Commissioners of Public Works with helping maintain progress from within the city.
The city manager also said he and his staff recently pondered a certain question he thinks residents should also consider.
“Where do you see Greenwood in the year 2025?” Brown asked. “All of us have a responsibility to help ensure things continue in a positive direction.”
Brown also announced that city/county building official Ronnie Powell is resigning.
“Ronnie is leaving to go work in the private sector,” Brown said. “We will certainly miss him. He has taken the building department here to heights we have never seen before.”
Nicholson made a plea for residents’ help. He said there are proposed plans in Washington to cut funding for the COPS program and the Community Development Block Grant program.
COPS provides grants for training and hiring of police officers. CDBG is utilized to create jobs and affordable housing in inner cities.
Nicholson urged residents to write to Congress and request that budgetary cuts to those programs not happen.
“Please write and request an increase to those programs as opposed to the proposed decrease,” Nicholson said.

Ninety Six school board revisits building options

Voters rejected earlier plan

March 16, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — Ninety Six School District voters soundly defeated a referendum last week that would have raised taxes, but the problems that brought on the need for additional funds have gone nowhere.
Issues besetting some of the schools and the board of directors — deteriorating facilities, overcrowding and a bloating of maintenance costs associated with both — must still be dealt with.
To that end, the board spent some time Thursday revisiting building options first covered three years ago when the idea of a bond referendum was spawned. The building plan according to last Tuesday’s vote included an allocation of $35 million for the construction of a new high school and the renovation of the current high school into a middle school.
Voters nixed that option in firm fashion — by an 811-304 count.
Superintendent Dan W. Powell scrolled back through the list of six options discussed before the referendum — including plans of differing variation, from renovating both the high school and middle schools to the use of 8 percent indebtedness funds to perform smaller-scale renovations each year.
Powell then presented a new chart to the public. The chart offered a sliding scale, with a list on one side in millions of dollars and a graduating number of tax dollars each home owner would be responsible for — per the value of his/her home.
In this way, Powell set the ground work for his discussion.
With the referendum now dead, voters will have to decide what they are willing to pay to remedy the condition of the district’s schools. These are conditions that will not fix themselves for free.
“It’s important because money was a big deal (in the defeat of the referendum),” Powell said. “I would say find your comfort level. We’re going to have to find out what we’re comfortable with spending. This is an important chart for us to look at.
“Find your comfort level, and then you’ll see how much we can build. The real questions are which option do we really want, can we come to an agreement with the board and the community, how much will it cost and are we really willing to pay for it?”
Board member Michael Bryant asked any district resident and taxpayer who would like to help form a community committee on these complex issues to make his/her desire known. Residents can contact the Ninety Six School District office at 543-3100.
“I believe we need to put a community committee together to begin the second referendum process,” Bryant said. “We need a plan that everyone believes in from the very beginning.”
Bryant said the district would almost certainly need to dip into its 8 percent funds just to maintain the schools until an eventual solution to the referendum issue can be solved — which could take years.
In other action, several students from the primary and elementary schools were recognized Thursday. Ninety Six Primary students Hope Deloach, Heather Arnold and Kade Berry were recognized by Ninety Six Primary School Principal Cathy Anderson for having their art work displayed at the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.
Hannah Ashley was honored at the meeting by Ninety Six Elementary guidance counselor Charlene Louden for being a regional winner in the Picasso Project sponsored by the Voices for South Carolina’s Children.
Anderson lauded the efforts of art instructor Vanessa Taylor for her diligence in teaching students at both the primary and elementary schools.
“She really goes the extra mile for the kids,” Anderson said.
District students recognized for their participation in this Saturday’s “In the Spotlight” celebration include: * From Ninety Six Primary School — Audrey Swingle, Brittany Ford, Karen Goss, Bailey Harmon, Bryson Chavis, Jasmine Williams, Lauren Rhodes, Anna Price, A.J. Hill and Kaley Whitcomb.
* From Ninety Six Elementary — Maria Sanchez, Wyatt Owens, Cade Wall, Clayton Burke, Emily Bledsoe, Bethany Capley, Tucker Threlkeld, Laura Banks, Aston Nalley and Danielle Balentine.
Edgewood Middle School Principal Wally Hall recognized four of his middle school students — Marybeth Lundquist, Lauren Turner, Austin Getsinger and Taylor Johnson — for being Junior Scholars.
In other business discussed Tuesday:
* April’s board meeting was changed to April 17.
* Board members will decide upon a district-wide policy regarding future Valentine’s Day procedures for students receiving gifts at school.
* Rodney Smith presented the board with his monthly financial report.

Obituaries

Maude C. Fleming

DUE WEST — Maude Crystalene “Aunt Chris” Fleming, 84, of 1614 Faris Road, died Thursday, March 15, 2007, at Abbeville Area Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville.

William Keller Sr.

DONALDS — William Keller Sr., 93, 0f 311 Dunn Creek Road, died Monday, March 12, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hodges, conducted by Brother Frank Jones.
Burial is in Dunn Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, with twilight services at 7 p.m. The body will be placed in the Kingdom Hall Saturday at 11 a.m.
Grandsons are serving as pallbearers, and granddaughters are serving as flower bearers.
The family is at the home.

Fannie Mae Kemp

Fannie Mae Kemp, 91, of 904 E. Cambridge, widow of F.L. Kemp, died on March 14, 2007 at the Hospice House of the Piedmont. Born in Saluda, SC, she was the daughter of the late Luke and Sarah Blocker Howard. She was a member of Perfecting Full Gospel Baptist Church, where she served as Deacon, was a member of the Adult Choir and Pastor’s Aide Society and was a member of Women’s Aide Society 104.
Survivors include a niece Eva Marie Elmore of Greenwood, a great-niece, Shirley Williams of the home and three great-great-nephews, Tyree Elmore, Marcus Elmore and Cedric Elmore, all of Greenwood, that were reared in the home.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday, March 19, 2007, at Perfecting Full Gospel Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor G. Curtis Patterson. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Pallbearers are nephews and friends of the family. Flower bearers are nieces and friends of the family. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Sunday at Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. The family is at the home and the home of a niece Thelma Spearman, 1002 Flatwood Road, Hodges. Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com. Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

Dana Henley Rhinehart

INMAN — Miss Dana Henley Rhinehart, 35, of 100 Theo Circle, Woodruff, passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at Mary Black Memorial Hospital, Spartanburg, SC.
Miss Rhinehart was born in Spartanburg, SC, on April 2, 1971, the daughter of Grady L. Rhinehart and the late Mary Henley (Buddin) Rhinehart.
She is survived by her parents, Grady L. and Sandra P. Rhinehart of Inman; one son, Larry Shane Lancaster of Buffalo, SC; 4 sisters, Katherine M. Rhinehart of Greenwood, Pamela Ivey Garner of Waterloo, Heidi Hughes of Houston, Texas, Lynne Greene of Spartanburg; two brothers, Lee Rhinehart, Jr., now serving in the US Navy, stationed in England, and Rusty Thomas Rhinehart of Inman; a very special friend, Grant Miller of Woodruff.
She was a student at the Ken Shuller School of Cosmetic Art and was of the Baptist faith.
Funeral services will be held at Seawright Funeral Chapel, Inman, SC, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 17,with Dr. Paul Moore and Rev. Chuck Byrd officiating.
Burial will be in Good Shepherd Memorial Park, Boiling Springs, SC.
The family is at the home of her parents, 420 Belcher St., Inman and will receive friends Friday 6-8 p.m. at Seawright Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Seawright Funeral Home & Crematory, Inman, SC.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Rodgers

CALLISON — Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Harvey Rodgers, 76, resident of 1223 Brown Town Road, husband of Barbara Morgan Rodgers, died March 14, 2007 at NHC of Greenwood.
Born in Callison, Nov. 7, 1930, he was a son of the late Harvey Walter and Florence Madge Callison Rodgers. He attended Clemson University and graduated Cum Laude from Lander College. He was a retired US Army Veteran, serving in the Army Artillery Division during the Vietnam War and the DMZ in Korea. After his retirement from the US Army, he served as Transportation Manager for Greenwood School District 50 for over 18 years.
Mr. Rodgers was a member of Bold Spring Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, elder and was a member and teacher of the Men’s Bible Class.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two daughters, Charla Rodgers Brothers and husband, G. Barry Brothers of Greenwood and Valerie Caroline Rodgers of Greenwood; two granddaughters, Alene Cline Brothers and Joemy Carly Brothers; two sisters, Mary R. Vassy of Snellville, GA, and Patsy R. Partridge of Bangor, ME.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2007, at the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Chuck Keller officiating.
Burial with full military honors will be in Bold Spring Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening, March 16, 2007, from 7 to 8:30.
Please omit flowers and make memorials to the Bold Spring Baptist Church Building Fund or Cemetery Fund, 2806 Callison Road, Bradley, SC 29819.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Rodgers family.

Katie Morgan Settles

Mrs. Katie Morgan Settles, 90, the widow of Jesse H. Settles, formerly of Liberty Hill Road, Plum Branch, died on March 12, 2007 at National Health Care.
She was born in Edgefield County, SC, daughter of the late William and Dorsha Harrison Morgan. She was a member of the Liberty Spring Baptist Church, where she served as a member of the Senior Choir and the Missionary. She was also a member of the Mt. Moriah Burial Aide Society and Women Home Aide Society No. 126.
She is survived by a daughter, Emma (William) Gilchrist, McCormick, SC; three sons, John L. (Annette) Settles, McCormick, SC, Ernest Settles, Spartanburg, SC, and Thomas (Rae) Settles, Atlanta, GA; fourteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be at noon Saturday at the Liberty Spring Baptist Church, conducted by Apostle E. Pressley Settles. Assisting are Revs. Henry R. Merriweather, Otis Cunningham, Henry Gilchrist, Minister Jimmy Gilchrist and Colin T. Settles. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Pallbearers are grandsons and nephews. Flower bearers are nieces and great nieces.
Public viewing will begin at 2:30 p.m to 9 p.m. on Friday and 8-10 a.m. on Saturday.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, SC, is in charge. Olivia A. Shirley COMMERCE, Ga. — Mrs. Olivia A. Shirley, 88, died March 14, 2007, at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge.

Olivia A. Shirley

COMMERCE, Ga. — Mrs. Olivia A. Shirley, 88, died March 14, 2007, at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge.

Opinion

Not dark days of WWII, but it’s still a world war

March 16, 2007

There are many people in Greenwood and all over the Lakelands area old enough to remember the dark days of World War II. They remember there were necessities of the times that required us to do things that were out of the ordinary.
There were things that too many today, no doubt, would have faulted, yet they were accepted by the people who believed without question they were paramount to the war effort.
Take censorship, for example. Personal letters, whether from a husband overseas to his wife back home, or from parent to son, sweetheart to sweetheart, father to son or son to mother, parts or words in letters were blacked out by censors. The same applied to correspondence from home to troops scattered around the world.

THAT TODAY LIKELY WOULD meet with all kinds of opposition. Fortunately, those men and women of World War II and other conflicts fought and died so all of us would retain the right to make our protests known.
Nevertheless, they understood the reason for monitoring correspondence. WWII was a terrible war. Every war is, of course. WWII, though, was one that held humanity itself hostage.
Every American knew that very well and was more than willing to make the sacrifices necessary to preserve the freedoms they shared.
There was another consideration back then, too. There were spies all over this nation gleaning and stealing any bits of information they could send back to their fascist leaders. Once the information was sent home, experts could often piece those bits of the puzzle together so that they just might be able to ascertain where America and its Allies were going to strike next.

THEN, AGAIN, THEY MIGHT put a lot of those puzzles together and, as a whole, reach conclusions that could provide them valuable information to help their war effort.
Some today might say that things were different then ..... that it was a war that required unusual actions in unusual times. It was a world war.
So it was. So it is now, and it started long before 9/11. The difference is that now it’s a war where it can be impossible to identify the enemy. Still, it is an enemy that strives for world domination and to kill any and all who aren’t what that enemy expects them to be: like them.
There may be more spies and saboteurs/terrorists today than there were in WWII. The tragedy of 9/11 made that all too clear. The war against terror is a world war. It is unlike any before. It is, without doubt, unusual. It will require the unusual to win. Losing would be too terrible to even think about. There is a problem, though. Some of us aren’t thinking.