Consultant
says Ware Shoals needs
long-range plan for development
April 30, 2005
By
WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer
WARE
SHOALS The key to the towns future might be
in renovating its past, according to one urban planning
consultant.
Its no secret that the surrounding community is aching for
new jobs. In March, National Textiles announced it was phasing
out operations of its Hodges facility by July, putting about 400
people out of work.
The residents of Ware Shoals are in a fight for their
survival, said Doug Burns, a principal with the planning
and design company Perkins Eastman Inc.
Seeding the local economy will be an uphill battle, but Ware
Shoals is far from a lost cause, he said.
The relationship of Ware Shoals is parallel to Rock Hill
and Charlotte about 15 years ago, he said. I think its
a possibility for them to become a nighttime
community for Greenville, or a retirement center. But this will
have to be something from city and community.
Burns called the towns current plan for economic renewal
incredibly aggressive and suggested tackling the
project in small pieces.
People arent ready to be there yet, he said.
The concept is to buy some time to generate some activity
and create some jobs.
Its pretty comprehensive, Ware Shoals Mayor
George Rush said of the towns vision plan. We wanted
an elaborate plan for all parts of town.
The visionary plan calls for a revitalization of the business
district, the renovation of the old Riegel Textile plant and
developing business property along the Saluda River.
The proposal from Perkins Eastman would refocus early efforts to
renovating a trio of uptown buildings Katherine Hall,
the Ware Shoals Inn and Town Hall.
When I got into town I was very much enamored of the three
buildings, as well as the post office, Burns said. I
thought it was a very beautiful area.
Renovating the Ware Shoals Inn would cost about $4 million, but
the project could be supported by historic tax credits if it
qualifies as a historic site, he said.
Divided into 30 units, the building could be maintained for years
as a senior living center.
I think it would be a landmark project for South Carolina,
Burns said. The city wins, its got very little risk
in it. And hopefully theyve got three of the neatest
buildings in town restored.
Meanwhile, the loss of National Textiles could have an impact on
everyone in Ware Shoals, Rush said. The facility uses high water
volumes that offset the cost of sewer services to Ware Shoals
customers.
When the plant closes, Rush said sewer rates might rise.
If there is no replacement for that sewer demand, then were
going to have to readjust and look at how that affects the whole
budget, he said.
The goal is to find a suitable occupant for the privately owned
National Textiles building, he said.
Wallace McBride covers Greenwood and general assignments in the
Lakelands. He can be reached at 223-1812, or: wmcbride@indexjournal.com
Lt. Col. Ret. Henry Cronic
CLINTON
Lt. Col. Ret. Henry Cronic, 83, died Monday, April 25,
2005, in the Anderson Area Medical Center after complications
from pneumonia.
Mr. Cronic was born in Gainesville, Georgia. After high school he
attended the University of Alabama, the Germany extension of the
University of Maryland and Harbor College in Los Angeles, CA.
Among the service schools, he has attended is the Command and
General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
His military career began in 1943 when he enlisted in the U.S.
Army Air Corps. He completed aviation cadet training at Childress
Air Force Base, Texas and was commissioned a second lieutenant in
1944.
He was assigned to Pairs, France working with Supreme
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) from 1962 to 1966. His
final assignment was as a Battalion Commander at Ft. Bragg, N.C.,
eventually becoming a lieutenant colonel.
The coveted Drill Sergeant Award, a great honor, is but one held
by the lieutenant colonel. He is the recipient of the Legion of
Merit, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star for meritorious service, the
Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and seven other awards and
decorations.
After retiring from the military in 1967, Lt. Col. Cronic chose
to become a full time resident of Clinton in 1968. He then worked
for 15 years as a training director, plans and benefits manager
at Clinton Mills. He was past president of the Clinton Lions
Club, past post commander of the American Legion and a volunteer
for the literacy program.
Surviving are his wife, Sarah Forck Cronic and a daughter, Dr.
Daria T. Cronic, both of the home. Other survivors include one
sister, Millie Workman of Greenwood; two brothers, Ray Cronic of
Myrtle Beach, and Scott Cronic of Greenwood.He was predeceased by
Odessa Cronic, mother, and Tanner Cronic, father, of Greenwood,
another brother, Wiley Cronic of Greenwood.
Services were held at St. Marks Catholic Church in
Newberry, with interment in the St. Peters Catholic Church
Cemetery in Columbia with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Main Street United
Methodist Church of Greenwood or Piedmont Technical College, P.O.
Box 1467, Greenwood, SC 29648, or the Presbyterian College
Faculty Development, 503 S. Broad St., Clinton, SC 29325.
PAID OBITUARY
Jiggs Dobbins
John
D. Jiggs Dobbins, 84, of National Health Care Center,
widower of Lena Dorn Dobbins, died Friday, April 29, 2005 at Self
Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of sister, Betty Porter, 229 W.
Deadfall Road.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.
Ethel Lee Hudson
PLUM
BRANCH Ethel Lee Morgan Hudson, 75, wife of
Ernest Hudson, died at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood,
after a sudden illness.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Johnny
and Mary Wiggleton Morgan. She was a member of Pine Grove A.M.E.
Church, a homemaker and attended McCormick County schools.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Mrs.
Harold (Jannie) Stevens of Plum Branch and Lizzie Hudson of North
Augusta; four sons, Johnny Hudson of Plum Branch, Danny Hudson of
Atlanta, Frank Hudson of Augusta, Ga., and Charlie Hudson of
North Augusta; a sister, Elizabeth Seymore of Alexandria, Va.; 12
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 101 Old Augusta Road.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home, McCormick.
Cornelia Karter Sachs
CULLMAN,
Ala. Cornelia Karter Sachs, 91, widow of Alfred Lawrence
Sachs, died Thursday, April 28, 2005 at her home.
Born in Cullman, she was a daughter of the late Frank and
Gertrude Otte Karter. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, Alabama, and the Altar Society and Lady Knights of
Columbus of the church. She was named Lady of the Year by Knights
of Columbus Council 1484 in 1982 and received The Sacred Heart
Church Senior Citizens Appreciation Award in 2001. She was a
charter member of Sacred Heart Senior Citizens, serving as
activity coordinator for many years. A graduate of Sacred Heart
Academy, she served several terms as treasurer of the Sacred
Heart Alumni Association and was a supporter of Sacred Heart
Convent and St. Bernard Abbey. She was employed at State National
Bank, now Compass Bank, retiring in 1978.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. James (Frances) McElveen
of Cullman, Mrs. Joseph (Charlotte) Cabri of Greenwood, S.C., and
Mrs. John (Louise) Chandler of Baton Rouge, La.; eight
grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
Services are 10 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
conducted by Father Kevin McGrath.
Pallbearers are grandsons Christopher Cabri, Edward Chandler,
Paul Chandler and Thomas Chandler, along with Ervin Webb and
nephew John Sachs.
Honorary pallbearer is Drew Green.
Rosary is 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Moss Service Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Senior Citizens or Sacred
Heart Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1085, Cullman, AL
35056-1085.
Moss Service Funeral Home is in charge.
Shirley C. Thomas
WASHINGTON
Shirley Crawford Thomas, 72, of 1200 Block North Capital
N.W., widow of Eddie James Thomas, died Monday, April 25, 2005 at
Doctors Hospital, Lanham, Md.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., she was a daughter of Eva
Crawford Posey and the late Eugene Goodman. She was a member of
Metropolitan Baptist Church, Washington and a former member of
Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Greenwood.
Survivors include her mother of Greenwood; five sons, Anthony J.
Thomas, Charles L. Thomas, Kenneth L. Thomas and Michael Thomas,
all of Washington and Tyrone Gail of Lanham, Md.; two daughters,
Ethel Bailey and Claudia A. Kennedy, both of Lanham; a sister,
Willa Mae Thompson of Washington; a brother, Leroy Crawford of
Greenwood; 27 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and a
great-great-grandchild.
The family is at the home of an aunt, Blanche Chappell, 718
Macedonia Ave., and her brother, Leroy Crawford, 108 Lisa Drive,
both in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.
Billie E. Williams
McCORMICK
Billie E. Williams, 76, of Savannah Lakes
Village, died Thursday, April 28, 2005 at Self Regional Medical
Center, Greenwood.
Born in Akron, Ohio, he was a former general manager of Portage
Mold & Die and former president of Diversified Engraving in
Akron. He served as umpire and referee for high school baseball
and basketball games for many years and was former president of
the Browns Backers Akron Chapter. After retiring to Savannah
Lakes Village nine years ago, he served as an Augusta Chronicle
Sunday edition carrier and was a member of First Assembly of God,
Lincolnton, Ga.
Survivors include his wife, Ginny M. Williams; three sons, Billie
E. Williams Jr. of Winter Garden, Fla., Dale M. Williams of
Leesville and David B. Williams of Akron; two daughters, Crystal
Sbona, of Connecticut and Valerie Timson of Florida; two
stepdaughters, Kara Fischback of Avon, Ohio and Keely Kalb of
North Canton, Ohio; 12 grandchildren; and seven
great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is 2 p.m. Sunday at First Assembly of God,
Lincolnton, conducted by the Revs. Lanis Lewis and Terry Bonds.
Memorials may be made to First Assembly of God, c/o Music Dept.,
P.O. Box 457, Lincolnton, GA 30817.
Beggs Funeral Home, 200 May Ave., Lincolnton, is in charge.
Finding a home away from home
Savannah Lakes residents housing golfers during NGA event
April 30, 2005
By
JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor
McCORMICK
A home away from home can be a problem for
professional athletes.
But thats not the situation for most of those in the
Savannah Lakes Village Resort Classic (NGA/Hooters Tour) at
Monticello Golf Club at Savannah Lakes Village.
It hasnt been a major problem at the McCormick course since
the first year it started this is the fourth year and next
year is already on the books.
Club pro Sam Adams has said on many occasions that the residents
have opened their homes and extended a big welcome to the more
than 150 players who participate each year in the event, which is
one of four major stops on the Hooters Tour.
The $200,000 purse this year is the largest on the 2005 tour,
except the championship tournament at the end of the year.
Everybody looks forward to playing this tournament,
said Rob Bradley of Jacksonville, Fla. Everybody is so
involved. When we go to the other tournaments, there is not a lot
of housing available, and they have a hard time getting
volunteers to help.
Other golf courses are not nearly as good as this one. Ive
heard a lot of the guys say this is kind of like the Masters of
the Hooters Tour. Everybody fell into that the community,
the golf course. Its a great time coming here.
Bradley is one of three players staying with Kathie and Bill
Essex, who opened their McCormick home to two players two years
ago, three last year and three this year. The other two staying
this year are Tommy Biershenk of Boiling Springs and Josh
Broadaway of Albany, Ga.
Making a home away from home for the players wasnt a
difficult task for the Essex family, and they plan to continue.
You get kind of a parents-fix, Bill said. Its
fun to have people around. The attitude of the whole village is
great.
The idea of providing housing started about four years ago.
We were excited about the Stewart and Stewart Developmental
Tour being here, Kathie said. There werent a
lot of places to stay. We had a fellow who lived in the village
who played on that tour and he was talking one day about most of
the guys were living on shoestrings, and in cars.
Most people here have kids who are living somewhere else,
and they kind of like getting a kids-fix having a guy come
and stay with them.
The number was low the first year, but the more the word got out,
the more the players became interested in living with village
residents.
The first year we had about 40 who stayed in homes,
Kathie said. Last year, we housed in excess of 90. Right
now (Tuesday), we have about 86.
Every year, the number we have to actually call somebody
(to provide housing) decreases because the guys who are still on
the tour go back. The people adopt these guys.
Players dont wait until the last minute, either.
These guys (Tommy and Rob) called weeks ago to reserve
their rooms, Bill said.
Kathie added, That has happened over and over again. One
elderly lady, who is a widow, took two players last year and was
so nice to them to the point that one of the players mother
sent her flowers because she had been so good to her son. Theres
a lot of stories that can be told.
Some players may be a little spoiled.
Were used to staying in hotels (or motels) and eating
out every meal, Bradley said. Last year, we ate here
every night. Its really great for us to change from hotel
life and eating fast foods.
There are circumstances when opening a home can be a major relief
to a player, especially when they have no idea where McCormick
is, or how to get there.
Like last Saturday night.
We were out and when I got home there was a message on the
machine, Kathie said. A player had called and was on
his way. It was about a quarter to nine, and I called his cell
phone. Hes on (Highway) 221, and its the first time
hes ever been here. He said he was going to find a place to
stay.
I said, you wont find a place tonight. Why dont
you come here and stay the rest of the night. I gave him
the directions to our house and he came and spent the night. I
got him housed the next day.
There are methods of getting the housing information out
one being a special system within the village.
We have an Internet sort of thing, Kathie said.
We call it Neighbor Link and we exchange information with
anyone who has a computer. We put notices on the inter-link when
we need housing, and I get almost all the people I need.
Bradley laughed and added, We saw a notice that said if you
want housing in McCormick, call Kathie Essex.
Thats why I said we better call early,
Biershenk added.
Once players are settled in, a typical day does not always mean
playing golf.
You get to go fishing and relax, Biershenk said.
We come straight off the golf course, put on some shorts
and go fishing. Its usually go to a hotel and sit in a
cramped room. Here, its like being back home. You do what
you want to do.
Kathie has the position of being the housing chairman for the
Hooters Tour, and she has special instructions for anyone opening
homes for players.
I tell everybody to sit down with players and have a frank
conversation about what you expect and what they expect. Most
people feed them, she said.
Here, when we get up in the morning, and if Im in the
mood to make bacon and eggs, I fix bacon and eggs. If Im
not, I say, theres the cereal, theres the milk
and theres the toast.
Bill added, We tell them, here it is, make yourself at
home.
Observations ... and other reflections
April 30, 2005
News
item: COLUMBIA (AP) The Senate finished work on a $5.8
billion spending Tuesday evening, entering the final hours of
debate doling out cash from an expected state surplus to pet
projects across the state
Pet projects? More often that not, in Columbia and Washington,
that word pet can be changed to pork.
Doesnt South Carolina have some bills to pay and reserves
to replenish that should come before spending on new items?
But, then, they live in a system where constituents are quick to
ask what they have done for them lately. Of course, funding pet
projects is also good for the back-home image of lawmakers
..
and it doesnt matter, it seems, whether they are Democrat
or Republican.
* * * * *
A bill in the South Carolina House of Representatives would
eliminate all of the 1,500 hours of training required for hair
braiders. The House approved a Senate bill that requires hair
braiders to receive only six hours of training.
There must be a least a few South Carolinians who wonder why
there even has to be a bill on hair braiding. Who can blame them?
You have to wonder if it is really necessary for lawmakers to
spend time talking about hair braiding in the first place. Still,
whod have thought theyd spend time on such things as
what constitutes a marriage, state sponsored gambling, among
other things that sometimes defy imagination
.. for
example, a bill would allow charities to hold raffles to raise
money while exempting them from the states anti-gambling
laws.
If the state sanctions gambling for itself, why not others?
* * * * *
Its perception that counts. Maybe that helps explain why
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attracts a few frowns
sometimes. For example, the ACLU of Virginia has asked a federal
appeals court to reverse a ruling against a Wiccan (witch)
priestess who wanted to offer the opening prayer at a board of
supervisors meeting.
Its not a question of whether the ACLU is right or wrong in
this case or in other situations that seem to stretch credibility
for a lot of people. Its all about public perception, and
the perception by some people is that its wrong. That is,
its wrong according to their general and customary beliefs
and opinions.
When perceptions of right and wrong differ, theres always
going to be disagreements. Were it not for that, would there even
be an ACLU?