Pump pinch more like stab

Gas prices affecting everyday life in area

August 28, 2005

JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

A few months ago, most people wouldn’t have given a second thought to making a late-night trip across town to rent a movie or buy a gallon of milk.
That was then.
With the price of regular unleaded gas topping $2.50 per gallon in most places, Americans are becoming increasingly conscious of the miles they rack up in their day-to-day lives.
Today, that late-night trip across town likely would have to wait until morning, when it could be combined with a trip to the dry cleaner, dropping the children off at school and picking up something to make for dinner.
That’s what Terri Savitz, of Greenwood, is doing. The mom of one said her family is “consolidating trips” by searching for other errands that can be done along the way.
Friends Tray McLaughlin, Kip Looper and Eric Burgess said they’ve been carpooling since gas prices started setting new records, but they’ve also been trying to cut back on their travel.
Even so, they’re still being forced to empty their wallets at the pump — and are having to cut back in other areas.
“We’re cutting way back on eating out,” McLaughlin said.
Burgess joked that if gas prices continue to rise, they might have to cut back on eating at all.
Sharon Estes said she isn’t ready to go that far, but she, too, is cutting back on eating out. As opposed to visiting restaurants three or four times a week, she said she is going only once or twice. She’s also changed the kinds or restaurants she goes to. She said she’s trying to eat cheaper, so when she does eat out, she’s going to places such as Taco Bell or McDonald’s instead of more expensive places.
Estes said she’s also thinking twice about “jumping into the car and going places.”
“I’m trying to conserve all I can,” she said.
Kimberly Byrd said she hasn’t changed the restaurants at which she eats, but she is going out less frequently. Instead of going out a few times a week, she said she goes out once every week or, sometimes, every other week.
“I’m lucky, at least, that I have a smaller car,” Byrd said. “My sister has a Suburban, and it costs her $100 to fill up the tank. I couldn’t do that.”
Linda Davis said she’s cutting out a lot of things, including eating out and making unnecessary trips.
“I’m trying to save my money so I can keep going to the movies,” she said. “That’s something I don’t want to have to cut out.”
Going to the movies is something a lot of people have cut back on, according to Frank Harling, an assistant manager at Greenwood Cinema 10. Harling said business has been unusually slow lately, even on the weekends.
Businesses across Greenwood are making similar complaints as area residents say most of their extra income is going into the gas tank.
“Sales have definitely dropped,” said Tracey Varn, a manager at Burger King on South Main Street in Greenwood. “I think it started the last weekend of July.”
She said she’s almost certain the decrease in business is directly related to rising gas prices, and, with a family of six, she said she understands why.
“We haven’t been out to eat in a while because of the extra money we have to put into gas,” she said. “We have an Excursion that gets about thirteen-and-a-half miles per gallon, so we’re having to cut out a lot of things.”
Varn said her family has cut out movie rentals and has been packing school lunches instead of buying them in the cafeteria. She said filling up the vehicle’s 50-gallon tank costs about $140 and “doesn’t last a week.” Selling the automobile for something smaller, however, isn’t an option since she has a large family, she said.
“It’s a killer,” Varn said.
Tony Wideman, owner of T.W. Boon’s in Uptown Greenwood, said gas prices are affecting him on a personal and a business level. He said he’s seeing a decrease in profit for the first time since he opened the restaurant a year ago. Though he doesn’t have an exact number yet, he said he’s expecting the decrease in profit to be about 5-10 percent, “barring a remarkable turnabout.”
“I’ve heard people talking, and they say they’re spending $14 to $50 more a week in gas, and it’s taking out those nights out,” Wideman said. “I’m actually hearing a good deal of people saying they’re choosing to drive motorcycles instead of cars. Delivery people are saying to look for an increase in those costs because they have to compensate for the increase in what it’s costing them, so that’s going to cut into profit also.”
Wideman said he hadn’t seen people changing the kinds of items they order when they do eat out; they’re just eating out less often.
At Arby’s, on the Highway 72 Bypass, General Manager Robert Ackerman said he hasn’t noticed a decrease in business, but the store has been experiencing higher costs because of the fuel surcharge being issued by distributors.
Management at Red Lobster in Greenwood said they haven’t seen any changes because of gas costs.
A manager at Domino’s Pizza in Greenwood reported that the delivery rate has not increased because of rising gas prices and business has not dropped off.
Even public education is suffering from the effects of soaring gas prices. According to figures from the State Department of Education, more than 12 million gallons of diesel fuel are purchased each year for the daily operation of about 5,000 buses. That means that every penny increase in the per-gallon cost of diesel fuel drains $120,000 from the state’s budget, even with a volume discount.
This past week alone, diesel fuel prices jumped 20 cents a gallon in South Carolina. Jumps similar to this are causing districts across the nation to strip money from classrooms, trim bus routes, cut field trips and raid cash reserves, according to a recent story by The Associated Press.
Area consumers can breathe a sigh of relief that there is at least one thing that won’t change because of rising prices. Wingard’s Pharmacy still is delivering prescriptions free of charge and will continue to do so, owner Gloria Wingard said.
Wingard said gas prices are affecting business as far as the cost of making deliveries, but the store’s customers won’t be affected by that she said.
“We’ve been offering free deliveries for a long time, and that’s not something we would get rid of,” she said.

Darrell Terelle Goode

CONYERS, Ga. — Darrell Terelle Goode, 35, husband of Ann Mosley Goode, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 from injuries sustained in a truck accident.
Born in Greenwood, S.C., he was a son of Mamie Lee Goode and the late Jefferson Davis “Jeff” Lagroon. He was a former member of Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, Epworth, S.C., and a member of Voices of Faith Ministries, Stone Mountain. A 1987 Greenwood High School graduate and Piedmont Technical College graduate, he was currently enrolled at Dekalb County Technical College. He was a former lead supervisor at Vulcan Material and an employee of Roadway Express Trucking Co., Atlanta. He was an Army veteran and member of the Army National Guard Reserve, serving in Desert Storm and Iraq.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Darius Tyrell Goode of the home; two daughters, Briana Nicole Goode and Ansley Marie Goode, both of the home; his mother of Greenwood; five sisters, Lauree Jones and Nancy Goode, both of Greenwood, London Goode-Thomas and Bernethia Culbreath of Ninety Six, S.C., and Tammy Lagroon of Lawrenceville, Ga.; a brother, Anthony Lagroon of Kennesaw, Ga.
The family is at his mother’s home, 524 Valley Brook Road, Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Gregory B. Levette and Son, 4347 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur and Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Jeanette McDuffie

WARE SHOALS — Hazel Jeanette McDuffie, 79, of 5 W. Fleming St., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late Lonnie C. and Alma Lee Ayers McDuffie. She retired from Riegel Textile Co. and was a member of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church.
Survivors include a sister, Helen Cochran of St. Matthews.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Parker-White Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Leon Jones. Burial is in Graceland Cemetery, Greenville.
Visitation is 12-1:30 Monday at the funeral home.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Donald Ray Payne

SURFSIDE BEACH — Donald Ray Payne, 55, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 in Myrtle Beach.
Born in Greenville, he was a son of Nancy Henry Haynes and the late Gloyd Payne. He was an Army veteran, serving during the Vietnam War.
Survivors include his mother of Waterloo; his wife, Rachel Russell Payne; a son, Colby Isaac Payne of Charleston; a daughter, Adrienne Nicole Payne of Myrtle Beach; two sisters, Cathy Payne Hamby and Vickie Payne McDowell, both of Greenwood; and a half sister, Beverly Payne of Easley.
Memorial services are 4 p.m. today at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Murrells Inlet.
Memorials may be made to Children’s Recovery Center, 1801 Legion St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 or The Secret Garden, 1 Free School Lane, Key West, FL.
Goldfinch Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com

Florence Rushton

GREENWOOD — Florence Louise Rauton Rushton, 94, widow of the late James Ralph Rushton, died Friday, August 26, 2005 at Self Regional Hospital.
Born in Greenwood County, she was the daughter of the late Elliott D. and Hassie Watson Rauton. She was a member of South Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Ralph (Rusty) McDaniel, Betty Bodie of Greenwood, Mrs. Hubert (Jeanette) Johnson of North Augusta, and Mrs. Larry (Pasty) Capell of Seneca; a daughter-in-law Faye Rushton, wife of predeceased son James “Buddy” Rushton; a nephew raised in the home Tom Witt; 14 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; and 20 great-great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with the Reverend Ray Boggs officiating.
Pallbearers are the grandsons: Tony Bearden, David Bearden, Craig, McDaniel, Jackie McDaniel, Jamin Dutch, and Tom Witt.
The family will receive friends before the service from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens Chapel Mausoleum.
The family members are at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to South Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church, PO Drawer C, Greenwood, SC 29648. Harley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. Melvin H. Timms

The Rev. Melvin H. Timms, 83, widower of Dorothy Hicks Timms, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Oconee County, he was a son of the late Thomas Albert and Gertrude Slaton Timms. He was a retired Baptist minister.
Survivors include a son, Lamar Timms of Greenwood; a brother, six sisters; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Mausoleum Chapel, Highway 29 North, Anderson, conducted by the Rev. Bennie L. Ridlehoover Jr. Entombment is in the mausoleum.
Visitation is 10-11 Monday at the mausoleum.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Gideon’s International.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Cox Funeral Home, Belton, is in charge.

Clayton Dean Walton

LAURENS — Clayton Dean Walton, infant son of Chrissy Ann Mathis and Russell Dean Walton, of 234 Susan Lyn Drive, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Survivors include his parents; a sister, Anna Walton and a brother, Tyler Smith, both of the home; paternal grandparents, Cheryl Walton of Greenwood and Tom and Wendy Walton of Ninety Six; maternal grandparents, Brenda and John Owens of Travelers Rest and Larry Mathis of Easley.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Chuck Sprouse. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Poznick playing for S. Carolina

He’ll represent state at Junior Davis Cup event

August 28, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

A local tennis player is hoping to bring home a prestigious tournament title to the state of South Carolina.
Greenwood High School freshman Jordan Poznick, 14, has been selected to the boys-14 South Carolina Junior Davis Cup team.
The team is composed of three young men who will travel Sept. 14-18 to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Junior Davis Cup championship. Teams from nine Southeastern states face off at the event, with the winning state capturing the cup.
In order to be selected to the squad, players must be ranked in the top three in the USTA state rankings. Poznick is ranked second in his age group in South Carolina.
This will be the second time Poznick has played in the event. He was selected to the boys-12 team in 2003. He said he definitely has a sense of achievement in qualifying for the Junior Davis Cup a second time.
“It’s been my goal all year,” Poznick said. “I’ve been thinking Davis Cup all along. It’s my goal to qualify for Davis Cup every second year I’m in an age division. The first year can be kind of tough playing guys a year older. But the second year, I feel like it should be my priority to qualify.”
Poznick has worked diligently in 2005 in his quest for cup qualification. The freshman has played in 20 tournaments and is also ranked second in the Southern Regional rankings for the state of South Carolina.
Poznick is highly familiar with the player ranked ahead of him in boys-14. That’s because it is his doubles partner, Florence’s Bobby Browning. The two have teamed up in several USTA matches in the last two years.
“It’s fun competing with Bobby,” Poznick said. “We’re good friends and good competitors. It makes being in tournaments like the Junior Davis Cup easier, since we know each other’s games so well.”
Cal Hillsman, of Spartanburg, the state’s third ranked boys-14 player, will join the pair on the cup team.
“Cal is also a great player,” Poznick said. “He’s right on my heels in the rankings. I think he forms a good team with Bobby and I.”
Poznick said he thinks the tournament in Chattanooga will prove to be a tough undertaking for he and his teammates. He said teams from Georgia, North Carolina and Florida often prove to be stellar competition in regional events such as this one.
Poznick spoke to the level of competition at the event when participated in 2003.
“Oh man, the talent level of these players is unbelievable,” Poznick said. “I went 4-4 last time I was at Davis Cup, and some of the players beat me down horribly. I’ve worked hard to become a better player since then, and I think I have. I know the others have gotten better as well.”
Poznick said playing in Chattanooga is a unique experience, because of the elevation and mountainous terrain. The tournament is at one of the premier public facilities in the country.
“It’s awesome playing up there,” Poznick said. “The courts are perfect and the staff there treats you well. Overall, the Davis Cup is just a tremendous tournament.”
Poznick said he thinks he and his teammates have a chance to bring the championship home to the Palmetto State. Though the competition will be fierce, he thinks Team South Carolina has put in the work necessary to get the job done.
“It’s gonna be hard, but we can do it,” Poznick said. “It’s an honor to be selected. Now, we want to prove they made the right choice when they selected us.”

Should we be concerned over ‘fashions’ for teens?

August 28, 2005

Is it just imagination, or are young girls and boys wearing clothing these days that leaves little to the imagination?
It’s easy to see it definitely is not imagination at work. Not only are fashions preferred by the young more revealing than ever, they appear to be getting skimpier by the season.
It has to be one of those “which came first?” situations. Do teenagers’ tastes in clothing dictate what designers and Madison Avenue do, or do designers and Madison Avenue advertising gurus dictate what teens wear? Whatever it is, fashions these days, including bathing suits, show a whole lot more skin than ever, with the emphasis on sex appeal.

IT’S DOUBTFUL THERE are any data on whether revealing clothing encourages sexual promiscuity, abuse, or crime.
Some have to wonder, though, if it helps establish and maintain a more libertine attitude among youngsters? Do provocative fashions contribute to teen pregnancy, a problem in Greenwood and the rest of South Carolina?
Of course, there’s always the thought that what adults wear is a model for teens, whether intended or not. So, the obvious effort to look “sexy” in public surely has to be a factor.
Whether at play, at school or even church, revealing clothing is becoming the rule instead of the exception. Is it something for society to be concerned about? Look, see, and then decide. One thing’s for sure. It’ll be revealing.

*****

It’s not unusual these days to see young girls wearing various pieces of jewelry in odd places. In fact, it’s getting to be almost routine for lips, eyebrows, ears, navels and other places on the body to be pierced to accommodate some trinket …... or more.
It’s natural for some people to wonder why some parents allow their teen-age daughters (or younger?) to poke things into their bodies. It’s just as natural to wonder why parents permit them to dress as they do.
People can be pardoned for being critical sometimes. This may be one of them. When young girls are dressed to look much older, with all the accouterments – paint, powder, etc. – they are bound to draw attention. In fact, some parents apparently do whatever they can to enhance the sophistication of young girls.
When they dress them in tawdry fashion – or allow it – as they often do, and the girls look more like they’re on the prowl than in school or church, it’s almost impossible not to wonder what those parents expect.
Tempt fate and sometimes it backfires. Nowadays, it seems, a whole lot of tempting is going on.