Cleaning up Greenwood

Local residents pitch in to beautify county, state

April 17, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity volunteers Deborah Powell and Judy Marino, both with the Greenwood Association of Realtors, and Chalmers Park resident Willie Williamson work together Saturday morning to clean up litter in the Chalmers Park neighborhood. Habitat’s campaign – one of several taking place Saturday across the county – was part of a statewide cleanup day, sponsored locally by the Neighborhood Development Office of the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

Community residents and other volunteers were scattered Saturday throughout neighborhoods in Greenwood County, picking up the crumpled paper, broken bottles, empty cans and other litter that was lying in their streets and yards.
Their efforts were part of a statewide cleanup campaign, which was sponsored by PalmettoPride, Keep South Carolina Beautiful and its affiliates.
The statewide event is just one part of the Great American Cleanup Campaign, which lasts from March until May, and is the nation’s largest community improvement program.
Last year, more than 1,077 pick-up events took place throughout the state, with 312.5 acres of parks cleaned, 27,858 tires recycled and 10,994 miles of roads, streets and highways cleared.
This is the second year the campaign has been localized in Greenwood, and more than 10 community and business groups were expected to participate in the campaign over the three-month period, said Toni Able, Director for the Neighborhood Development Office of the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
Able said a variety of groups are encouraged to participate in the cleanup campaign each year, including grassroots organizations, government officials, schools and businesses.
“The campaign encourages people to clean up continuously. As the weather gets warmer, people are spending more time outside, and people are becoming more aware of their surroundings,” she said. “People want to live in clean neighborhoods.”
Able said the Neighborhood Development Office, which sponsored the event locally, supplied each registered group with trash bags, banners and posters for Saturday’s event. She added that the neighborhood or group that collected the most trash or had the most volunteers would be recognized at the “Pitch In” Litter Prevention Task Force Appreciation Luncheon in May.
“People enjoy this campaign, and the neighborhood leaders often challenge their residents to see who can do the most,” Able said.
In Greenwood last year, more than 80 volunteers worked to clean 40 streets and collected 3,300 pounds of litter.
With the beautiful spring weather this weekend, many groups chose to participate in Saturday’s cleanup day, but Able said the three-month campaign gives those who couldn’t join in this weekend another chance to help out.
“They have the option to pick another day to work if their neighborhood missed out on it this weekend,” Able said. “There is plenty of time left to participate.”
Volunteers with the Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity met in Chalmers Park at 8 a.m. Saturday, ready to begin the cleanup around the Habitat homes in the area.
“The biggest reason we are here today is because Habitat is all about building communities and making neighborhoods better – and one of those ways is to clean the neighborhood up,” said Molly Brunkow, Habitat’s Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) coordinator. “(Litter) seems to be something that affects every neighborhood. It can really change the look of the neighborhood.”
James Sanders, a coordinator for the cleanup on Taggart Avenue and Russell Street, said his neighborhood group – with about 30 volunteers – decided to hold a picnic after the event to get the entire community involved.
“We try to have a (cleanup) at least once a month. Trash is not too big of a problem in this area, but we still have people driving by and throwing stuff out their windows. We won’t be able to stop that, but we try to stay on top of it,” Sanders said. “We have fun, and we are getting the kids involved in the community. They need our guidance because they are the future of tomorrow.”

Information in this article was obtained from a Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce press release. Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

Kid’s Triathlon brings big crowd

April 17, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Greenwood’s Kalo Nance pushes his bicycle out of the transition area during Saturday’s Kid’s Triathlon at the Greenwood YMCA.

On a beautiful spring afternoon, 141 boys and girls from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia gathered at the Greenwood YMCA to challenge themselves physically and mentally.
The large group of youngsters, ranging in age from 5 to 12, took part in the second annual Kid’s Triathlon Saturday.
The race — which is the precursor to this morning’s sixth annual Sprint Triathlon — started with a 100-yard swim in the YMCA pool, followed by a 3-mile bike ride and a 1-mile run.
This year’s turnout more than doubled the field of 58 that competed in last year’s inaugural race. The YMCA had 175 youngsters sign up for the event.
“The kids were awesome and the parents were great. … I had no idea that we would have this many come in here for this race,” said race director David Gurley. “We really didn’t know what we were going to end up with. As far as this year, I believe this race has topped even the adult race in numbers.”
As a result of the large turnout and also because of the size of the pool, the competitors were divided into 12 different heats based on age.
That meant when the triathletes crossed the finish line, they didn’t know where they finished until the final times were added up.
One person that didn’t realize how well she did was Greenwood’s Rebecca Kilburn. The 11-year-old was the overall girls winner, finishing with a time of 24 minutes, 56 seconds.
“I was real surprise to know I won,” said Kilburn, whose sister Chelsea was the overall girls winner last year.
“I know I did a good job biking, but I didn’t think I went that fast. After a while on the run my ankle started hurting, and I had to stop a couple of times.
“But it was really exciting to see the finish line.”
While Kilburn had a solid time on the bike, at 15:45, it was actually her swimming that put the Greenwood Christian fifth-grader on pace for the win, completing the 100 meters in 1:28 for the sixth fastest overall split time.
Kilburn, who finished first in her age group last year, started the race in the second to last heat, and occupied her time by playing a little basketball in the YMCA gym.
Jack Felix, 11, of Hilton Head, who also went in the same heat as Kilburn, has the fastest overall time on the afternoon, finishing in 20:38. His time was 2:23 faster than last year’s winner Michael Adams.
“I usually struggle in the swim, but this time I was struggling in the run, because I have a cold,” Felix said. “I thought I ran like a 22 (minute race). I couldn’t believe it was 20. I started my watch, but I didn’t really pay attention to it.”
Felix will follow up Saturday’s win by competing in today’s Sprint Triathlon. It will be his second sprint triathlon.
Along with male and female overall winners, awards were handed out to the top three finishers in each age group.
Greenwood’s Alex Guareschi, 7, had the honor of being the first competitor to cross the finish line. Guareschi, who had a wipe out at the end of his bike ride, shook off the skinned-up right knee, the Cambridge Academy first-grader was the first competitor to cross the finish line, where he was greeted with a hug by his mother, Helene.
“Everyone was cheering for me when I got to the finish line,” Guareschi said. “It felt real special.”
Guareschi’s time of 27:56 placed first in his age group, just ahead of Greenwood’s Caleb Hinzman (28:18) and Travis Young (28:22).
Guareschi’s brother Marco also took home an award as the lone 5-year-old triathlete, finishing at 36:17.

Opinion

Movement to ban smoking stirs concern about control

April 17, 2005

Local governments in South Carolina would have the authority to ban smoking in public places under a bill that squeaked – 10-9 – through the Senate Judiciary Committee the other day.
“You are repealing the right of private property here,” said Committee Chairman Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston.
No doubt a lot of South Carolinians will agree with McConnell. Many of them already think government is going too far insinuating itself into people’s lives where it has no business or mandate. They see “Big Brother” implications in a number of areas where government has presumed to be their keepers.
There’s a good reason government gets that involved, though. We have asked for it. We wouldn’t like the finger of responsibility or blame pointed at us ….. but it should be.

TOO MANY OF US, UNFORTUNATELY, have looked to government to be all things to all people ….. in every way, it seems. We have, as a people, become so dependent upon a variety of government welfare programs, handouts, pork-barrel legislation, subsidies, school loans and grants and so many other routine and “special” entitlements that we expect them to be “rights,” not to mention permanent.
Many feel that government, whether federal, state or local, has grabbed far too much power over everything we do. They are concerned that eventually this tendency to depend on government will lead to a time when dependency turns to control. Some, in fact, see that happening too much already.
How about seat belts? They question government’s authority to require their use. And don’t forget the growing effort to influence what we eat, whether, collectively, we are too fat and consume too much of various kinds of fattening food.

PHYSICAL CONDITION? THERE IS some movement now to require a certain amount of physical education in public schools. The list could go on, of course, but it doesn’t take more to make the point that many Americans believe government intrusion is already a fact of life, not something imagined.
Some may look at this as a certain amount of paranoia. However, whereas some government involvement is full of good intentions, those who worry see each “intrusion” as one more step toward a world where we are controlled, not governed.
Those who are concerned should be heard, not ridiculed. Even if some government actions are positive, and many times they are, we should always be vigilant and cognizant of what could happen if we fail to exercise our freedom to speak up and protest if necessary.
That’s the American way, of course. Keep it that way.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Lelar Mae Bland

Lelar Mae Bland, 88, of 444 Oak Ave., died Friday, April 15, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Ninety Six, she was a daughter of the late Pick Ouzts and Mary Jane Glover. She attended Benedict College and was a member of Old Mount Zion Baptist Church in Epworth.
She was the last survivor of her immediate family.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Alice Brown

HODGES — Alice Singleton Brown, 81, resident of 320 Morgan Road, widow of Lawrence D. Brown, died April 16, 2005 at the home of her daughter.
Born in Anderson County, June 26, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Logan Frank and Rena Bradberry Singleton. She was a graduate of Girls High School in Anderson and retired from Abney Mills, Grendel Plant.
Mrs. Brown was a member of Walnut Grove Baptist Church, The Ladies Sunday School Class, Golden Agers Senior Group and the Hodges Chapter #272 Order of the Eastern Star.
Surviving are two daughters, Nancy B. and her husband Franklin Smith of Hodges and Pat B. Scott of Greenwood, with whom she made her home. Grandchildren, Lonnie and wife Tammie Smith, Jenny and husband Chris Ashley, Paige and husband Joey Murray and Travis and wife Nikki Scott, all of Hodges. Twelve great-grandchildren, three sisters, Viola Richey, Lib McGill and Betty Wright, all of Anderson. Graveside services will be 3:30 PM Sunday at
Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Rev. Charles Caldwell officiating.
The family is at the home of Franklin and Nancy Smith, 6021 Highway 25 North.
Memorials may be made to Family Caregivers Support Program, PO Box 1366, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Brown Family.
PAID OBITUARY

Mattie Charles

Mattie Rush Charles, 83 of 1411 East Durst Ave., widow of James Vernon Charles Sr., died Friday, April 15, 2005 at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, N.C.
Visitation is 6-8 Monday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her son, James V. Charles Jr., 713 Chinquapin Road.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Shirley Lou Dill

EASLEY — Shirley Lou Allen Dill, 67, of 123 Andrea Circle, Apt. 5, Shadowbrook Apartments, wife of Charles Earl Dill, died Saturday, April 16, 2005.
Born in Ware Shoals, she was a daughter of the late O.K. and Janie Inez Hughes Allen. She was a homemaker and a member of Donaldson Church of God.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Sheila D. Kay, of Easley; three sons, K. Lamar Kay, of Simpsonville, Dale Douglas Kay, of Easley, and Michael E. Kay, of Charleston; four sisters, Betty Dorn, of Hodges, Joyce Ables, of Honea Path, Linda Griffith and Kathy Hagan, both of Greenwood; seven brothers, Otis, Elmer and Curtis Allen, all of Ware Shoals, and Cecil, Charles, Terry and Ronnie Allen, all of Greenwood; stepmother, Alma Gillion, of Greenwood; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services are 12 Monday at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest. Burial is in Turkey Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Ware Shoals.
Visitation is 4-6 today at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest.
The family is at the home.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest, Greenville, is in charge.

Jamie Killingsworth

Services for Jamie Deshun Killingsworth are 3 p.m. Monday at Long Cane A.M.E. Church, conducted by the Rev. Willie P. Black. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the Mulberry A.M.E. Church Cemetery.
Viewing is 1-9 today at Abbeville & White Mortuary.
The family is at the home of his mother, Alice Killingsworth, 136 Dutchman Road, Abbeville.
Abbeville & White Mortuary is in charge.

Emma Slatten

HONEA PATH — Emma Boggs Slatten, 81, of 121 Maryland Ave., wife of Amos Lee Slatten, died Saturday, April 16, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Oconee County, she was a daughter of the late Wade H. and Lola Callaham Boggs. She was retired from Riegel Textile Co. and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the O.E.S. Boyd Bobo Chapter No. 144.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Rev. Billy Slatten of Pelzer and Dan Slatten of Charleston; a daughter, Sonja Medlock of Honea Path; and seven grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Tim Bailey and Robert Emory. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Visitation is 1-2 Monday at Calvary Baptist Church.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 5551 Highway 252 West, Ware Shoals, S.C. 29692.
Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge.

Bobby Taylor

Services for Bobby Taylor of 206 Fuller St. are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. David Morton.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.