Dreaming of a bright Christmas

Man says of lights: ‘We love Christmas
and we want to make it as fun as we can'

December 23, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

It’s a Christmas display that might even make Clark W. Griswold jealous.
That’s because Mike and Kathy Rutland’s home and yard are adorned with close to 125,000 twinkling Christmas lights and 69 lighted figures — enough to give the property on Olde Puckett Ferry Road a neon glow that can be seen from hundreds of feet away.
Unlike Griswold, who spends a few days lighting every inch of his home in the movie “Christmas Vacation,” Mike pulls his decorations out of storage in October to begin his task.
For the next two to three weeks, he can be found outside creating his Christmas masterpiece, which takes a total of about 60 man-hours, he said.
“I start with the pool area,” he said, motioning toward his back yard, where lighted palm trees dot the patio, “and I work my way from there to the house.”
Inside the home, Mike’s wife, Kathy, has creative control of the holiday decorations, and “every nook and cranny on the bottom floor is well covered,” Mike said. With wreaths, Christmas trees, gingerbread homes and lighted figurines gracing the rooms, halls and walls, visitors might think they’ve walked into Santa Claus’ house by mistake.
“It’s like moving out and moving in,” Kathy said of the decorating chore. “I try not to stress about it, though. It will just happen when it happens.”
Outside, however, is a different story. Before placing the lights on their own meter base, Mike said the strands were plugged into “every room” in the house, tripping circuit breakers on a regular basis.
And, of course, the strands do burn out occasionally, and Mike has had to replace hundreds of sets of lights.
“It’s stressful, especially when you’ve got a set of lights that don’t work,” Mike said, laughing. “But at the end of it, when everything is going, that’s when the payback is.”
It has taken years for the Rutlands to accumulate all their Christmas decorations.
“I started with two sets of lights running across the trailer,” Mike said of a former residence he had in south Greenwood. Through the years and different homes, his creativity has only grown.
“When I got this property, I was so excited. I said, ‘I’ve finally got some room to work,’” Mike said.
The display does cost the Rutlands when the winter power bills arrive, and the two debated whether they would light their yard this year.
“With power bills and gas doing what they’re doing, many times we’ve said, ‘Lord, we need to cut this out,’” Mike said. “But as long as (my daughters) are here, we are going to do it.”
“It’s just gorgeous. You have to drive by a couple of times to see it all,” said Greenwood resident Vonnie Simpson, who snapped a photo of the home with her cell phone as she drove her family by. “We appreciate all the effort Mike and Kathy went to for our enjoyment.”
And that, Mike said, is another reason why he’ll be out on the roof and lawn next year, doing the same thing.
“That’s why we do it,” he said. “Even I love it when I pull up and see it. We love Christmas, and we want to make it as fun as we can.”

AAA Carolinas predicts gas prices
won’t drop below $2 this winter

December 23, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

American motorists have been on an emotional roller coaster this year.
They experienced panic this fall when gasoline prices spiked to more than $3 per gallon.
They experienced relief a few weeks later when prices started to drop back to normal.
Now, on the heels of Christmas weekend, when many Americans will be traveling, gas prices are creeping up again, and Greenwood residents say what they feel this time is annoyed and a bit fearful.
“They (oil companies) know they have us and they’re taking advantage of it,” said Greenwood resident Carolyn Wells as she filled her tank. “They know a lot of people will be traveling and we have to have gas, so they can raise the prices to whatever they want.”
The average price Thursday for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Greenwood was $2.04, up about 15 cents from a few weeks ago.
Gas prices are up nearly 40 cents a gallon in the Carolinas over last year and airline fares are more than 10 percent higher for the same destination, according to AAA Carolinas. It is estimated that a record number of 2.4 million Carolinians will drive more than 50 miles from home and another 466,000 will fly, according to AAA.
“It’s aggravating,” said Daniel DeVore of the holiday price increase. “You have to buy stuff for Christmas, and when they jack up the price, it just adds to what you have to buy.”
Terry DeVore said he felt a little nervous as he watched the price per gallon start to climb again.
“You just never know what’s going to happen,” he said.
That was the reaction of multiple residents at the pump this week. Unlike earlier this year, they weren’t lining up at gas stations to get as much fuel as possible before the prices could rise again, but many motorists said they are wary of rising prices. While most said they doubt prices will near $3 again this year, they said they had no idea what the next year will bring.
Residents, including Wells, said they are especially wary of increasing prices at the pump, because they already are paying higher prices for heating this year.
Unfortunately for motorists, “colder weather doesn’t help bring gasoline prices back down,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “Demands for heating oil and other energy will keep prices high.”
Officials at AAA Carolinas say they expect prices to fluctuate during the winter months, but remain above $2 a gallon, depending upon worldwide demand and events.

Eagles take Vikes

GHS boys compete sweep of tourney titles with win

December 23, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

The Eagles made it a clean sweep for Greenwood High School at the 13th Annual Bearcat Christmas Classic. The Greenwood boys basketball team joined the girls squad in the winner’s circle of the Classic by defeating crosstown rival Emerald, 72-58, Thursday night at Lander’s Finis Horne Arena.
The loss evened this season’s mark between the two schools at 1-1. The next game between the two schools is Jan. 6 back at Lander.
Freshman Sam Montgomery popped in 19 points to lead Greenwood in his first career start.
“It feels really good,” Montgomery said. “Our team did fantastic. Andre Day did a good job of setting everything up.”
Day was the tournament MVP, while Montgomery and A.J. Lomax made All-Tournament. Emerald’s Peferio Strong also made the All-Tourney team.
The Eagles put on an offensive show in the first quarter.
A.J. Lomax poured in 10 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers. Freshman forward Sam Montgomery dumped in five points in the period, all coming as a result of offensive rebounds. Emerald attempted to keep pace, getting two 3s from Nick Lanier. But Greenwood carried a 27-13 lead into the second quarter, easily the best opening-quarter offensive output of the year by the Eagles.
Emerald chipped away at the lead in the early part of the second quarter.
William Taylor scored on two alley-oop layups, and Peferio Strong knocked down a pair of baskets. Meanwhile, Greenwood continued to get inside scoring from Montgomery and Xavier Dye to remain in the lead at 35-26 with 3:00 left in the half.
The Eagles nudged the lead out further late in the second quarter.
Montgomery continued to impress in the paint, scoring two hoops late in the half to push his first half total to 12. Taylor was Emerald’s first half leader with 10 points, two coming on a baby hook with 1:20 left in the half. Armanti Edwards layup with less than 40 seconds left sent the Eagles to the locker room with the 42-28 halftime lead.
The Vikings were hot at the beginning of the third quarter. Strong, Matt Herring and Tavares Gilliam all hit a pair of baskets in the first four minutes of the quarter, subsequently, they cut deep into the Greenwood lead. The Eagles were up 48-41 with 3:34 left in the third.
Dye staved off the run moments later. The center rolled off his defender, drop stepped to the basket and sent home a thunderous two-handed slam dunk.
Greenwood again extended the lead before the end of the third, however. Two pairs of free throws by Lomax put the Eagles up 54-44 as the teams readied for the final quarter.
Emerald climbed back in the contest in the opening moments of the fourth, due in part to two 3-pointers from Nick Lanier that cut the lead to 58-52 with 5:32 left in the game. Greenwood answered by going inside once again, getting back-to-back hoops in the paint from Dye and Montgomery.
GREENWOOD (72)
Sam Montgomery 19, A.J. Lomax 18, Xavier Dye 16, Andre Day 10, Edwards 6, Middleton 3
EMERALD (58)
Will Taylor 16, Nick Lanier 14, Peferio Strong 13, Gilliam 8, Herring 7
Greenwood 27 15 12 18- 72
Emerald 13 15 16 14-58
3-Point Goals- G3 (Lomax 2, Day), E5 (Lanier 4, Herring)
Fouled out-None Technicals- None

Greenwood girls top Lady Flashes for tourney title

December 23, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Christmas wishes came true for the Lady Eagles Thursday evening.
The Greenwood High School girls basketball team downed Calhoun Falls, 66-23, to win the championship of the 13th Annual Bearcat Christmas Classic at Lander University.
Greenwood guard Ashly Chandler led all scorers with 20 points. Chandler was named tournament MVP.
“I really wasn’t thinking about MVP or any of that,” Chandler said. “We just wanted to win the championship, and we did.”
Brantley Sacoco and Jacena Thompson made the All-Tournament team, as did Calhoun Falls’ Lauren Henderson.
Greenwood led from the opening tap, playing with an energy appropriate to a tournament championship game. The team seemed to carry its hot shooting over from Wednesday night’s win over crosstown rival Emerald as the Lady Eagles raced to an early lead in the first quarter.
Using a suppressive trapping defense, Greenwood nabbed several steals in the opening minutes, turning them into hoops by Ashly Chandler and Brantley Sacoco. Jacena Thompson got in on the action as well, canning a short jumper just before the buzzer to end the first quarter.
The Lady Blue Flashes got six points from guard Lauren Henderson in the opening period. All three of Henderson’s baskets came on twisting, writhing lay-ins. The Lady Flashes trailed 16-10 heading into the second quarter. The first part of the second quarter held more of the same for each team.
Greenwood took advantage of a marked height advantage over its Class A opponent. Kyesha Middleton, Thompson and Sacoco each hit layups in the quarter after offensive rebounds. Meanwhile, Calhoun Falls struggled to stay with the Lady Eagles, despite getting hoops from Henderson and Cherelle Bridges.
The Lady Eagles closed the half on an 11-0 run. The last 2:14 of the half Greenwood went to a full-court press, further pestering the Lady Flashes guards. Greenwood was up, 31-14, at halftime.
The Lady Eagles came right back to the press in the opening moments of the second half.
Calhoun Falls, showing a determined effort to break the press, couldn’t seem to hold onto the basketball. Lady Flashes players were open and streaking to the hoop on several occasions, only to fumble the pass away or watch it sail over their heads. Greenwood was increasing its lead all the while, going up 38-14 with 5:07 left in the third quarter.
“We got blessed out pretty bad at halftime about not pressing right,” Chandler said. “I guessed coach Thompson fussing worked, because we got it going after halftime.”
The Lady Eagles put the game completely out of reach by the end of the third quarter.
Continuing to get steals and blocks with its defense, Greenwood poured on the points. Guard Ashly Chandler was particularly hot for the Lady Eagles, scoring 10 points in the quarter. Greenwood headed to the fourth quarter up 53-17.
Despite having five subs in, Greenwood continued to grow its lead in the fourth quarter. Kyesha and Tenesha Middleton nailed hoops in the period, and the Lady Eagles were up 57-21 with 3:33 left to play.

A stronger bond

December 23, 2005

There are so many things floating around the Internet these days it’s hard sometimes to tell which are factual. Whether the story below is fact or fiction doesn’t matter. It’s too good to pass up. It‘s heartwarming at this season, when love speaks to hearts all over the world, and when we all need to believe in the magic of Christmas….. when love is the tie that binds.

NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa, officials said.
The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean, then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.
“It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a ‘mother’,” ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park, told AFP.
“After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together,” the ecologist added. “The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother,” Kahumbu added.
“The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years,” he explained.

As one person said, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Lillie Mae Aiken

ABBEVILLE — Lillie Mae Aiken, 72, of 1978 Old Douglas Mill Road, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Services will be announced by Richie Funeral Home.

Jack Bobo

DONALDS — Jack Franklin Bobo, 32, of 318 Bell Road, husband of Mary Elizabeth Sweet Bobo, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Bobby F. and Diane Maye Bobo. He was a Ware Shoals High School graduate and a certified front-end alignment technician. Employed by M & M Tire Co., Greenwood, he also served as crew chief of the “Cokesbury Bullet” dirt track racecar. He was a member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his parents of Donalds; a daughter, Samantha “Sam” Bobo of the home; two stepdaughters, April Payton and Brittiany Payton, both of the home; a brother, Robert J. “Joey” Bobo of Hodges; paternal grandmother, Beatrice Casey Bobo of Hodges; and maternal grandmother, Dorothy May Reeder of Greenwood. Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Nena Reynolds and J.B. Abercrombie. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Johnny Coates, Franky Coates, Larry Timms, Warren Martin, Kenny Winn, Tanner Young, Tony Smith and John Sanders.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of his grandmother Beatrice Bobo, 800 Townsend Road I, Hodges. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Rev. George L. Britt
March 8, 1909 -December 21, 2005

ANDERSON, SC — Rev. George Lee Britt, age 96, of 305 Keith Avenue, Anderson, SC, and husband of the late Inez Franklin Britt, died Wednesday, December 21, 2005 in An-derson, SC.
Born in Carter County, TN on March 8, 1909, he was the son of the late David Alexander Britt and Minnie Byrd Britt. He was a retired minister and had pastored twelve churches in four states during his forty years of service. He authored two books, “When Dust Shall Sing” and “The Hour Has Come” and preached a total of 56 camp meetings and prayer conferences in the Church of God and other denominations.
Survivors include a son, David Lee Britt of Anderson, SC; a daughter, Norma Mauldin of Williamston, SC; two grandchildren, Mike Mauldin of Central, SC, Lori Connor of Williamston, SC and two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Abby Connor of Williamston, SC.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 24, 2005 at 11:00 am at High Praises Church officiated by Bishop Chris Sustar, Mr. John Goolsby, Bishop Keith Speed and Dr. Parnell Coward. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Anderson, SC.
The family will receive friends at The McDougald Funeral Home on Friday, December 23, 2005 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
The family will be at 205 Autumn Drive, Williamston, SC.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com THE McDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Martha Funk

ABBEVILLE, SC — Martha “Mott” Tolbert Funk, 91, resident of 108 Parker St. widow of Clarence E. Funk died Thursday Dec. 22, 2005 at her home.
Born in Abbeville Co. SC she was a daughter of the late Martin L. and Ivy McIlwain Tolbert.
She attended Abbeville public schools and graduated from Winthrop College. She began her teaching career in 1936 at St. Stephens school in Berkley Co. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1960. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church in St. Stephens where she taught Sunday School for many years.
Survivors are: 4 nieces Linda T. Nickles, Rose T. Terrell, Gail T. Terrell and Barbara T. Anderson all of Abbeville, SC.; 5 great nieces and nephews and 3 great-great nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother James D. Tolbert.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday Dec. 26, 2005 from the First Baptist Church in St. Stephens. The time will be announced by Dial-Murray Funeral Home, Moncks Corner, SC.
Local announcement by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC.
PAID OBITUARY

Lois Rouse Gray

ABBEVILLE — Services for Lois Rouse Gray are 2 p.m. Saturday at Shady Grove A.M.E. Church, conducted by the Revs. Robert L. Johnson, Oliver Baylor, Johnnie Waller and Bishop Emanuel Spearman. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are classmates and friends of the family.
The body is at the home, 1851 Secession Extension.
Brown and Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

J. D. Herron

SUMMERVILLE, SC —Jimmy “J.D.” Herron, 50, resident of 181 West Medina St., formerly of Greenwood, died December 21, 2005 at Summerville Medical Center.
Born in Anderson, August 12, 1955, he was a son of Margaret Voyles Herron and the late Jimmy Herron. He was a graduate of T.L. Hanna High School and was a carpenter. Mr. Herron attended Rice Memorial Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his mother of Anderson are a daughter, Traci Vigil of Summerville; a son, Tom Myers of Greer; his former wife and long time friend, Terri Myers of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Haylee, Darian, Terry, all of Summerville and Brock of Greer; two sisters, Reita Belcher of Chesnee and Wanda Hilley of Easley; two brothers, Jerry Herron of Easley and Ernest Herron of Six Mile; a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conduced at 1 pm Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Alvin Hodges officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Tom Myers, David Moody, Mitch Turner, Jameson Belcher and Nathan Moody.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 12 to 1 Friday afternoon.
The family is at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to Greenwood County Parks & Recreation, PO Box 3006, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Herron family.
PAID OBITUARY

Julia Ann Hill

Services for Julia Ann Hill are 1 p.m. Saturday at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield County, conducted by the Rev. John W. Paul, assisted by the Revs. Eddie Freeman, Joseph Caldwell and Ronnie Gilchrist. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are members of Masonic Lodge No. 96.
Flower bearers are Mount Moriah Chapter No. 31, Heroines of Jericho and Mount Pisgah Chapter No. 418 Order of the Eastern Star members.
Honorary escorts are Burial Aide Society, Woman Home Aide Society No. 87 and Young Woman Honor of Edgefield members.
The family is at the home, 116 Whitehall Road.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Arlie Collins Hudson

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — Arlie Evelene Collins Hudson, 86, widow of Elzie Lee Hudson, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005 at Bedford County Nursing Home after an extended illness.
A native of Allen County, Ky., she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Malinda Ripley Collins. She was a retired employee of U.S. Pencil Co. and a member of Unity Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Ed Hudson of Shelbyville; four daughters, Arlie Peek of Dearborn, Mich., Elease Armstrong of Shelbyville, Carol Clements of Greenwood, S.C., and Lois O’Brien of Murfreesboro; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Hillcrest Funeral Home, conducted by Frelan George. Burial is in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 11-2 Monday at the funeral home.
Hillcrest Funeral Home is in charge.

Josie Freeland Jackson

PLUM BRANCH — Josie Freeland Jackson, 96, widow of Willie Walter Jackson, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Old Edgefield County, she was a daughter of the late James Manning and Bessie Crawford Freeland. She was a homemaker and the oldest member of Plum Branch Baptist Church, where she was a royal ambassador leader for many years. She retired from McCormick Senior Center.
Survivors include two sons, James A. Jackson of Callison and Joe M. “Bud” Jackson of Crestview, Fla.; a daughter, Patricia J. Storey of McCormick; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Plum Branch Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Darrell Engle and Kenneth Boone. Burial is in Plum Branch Cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons.
Visitation is 1-2 Saturday at the church.
The family is at the home of Patricia Storey, Highway 221/28, McCormick.
Memorials may be made to Plum Branch Baptist Church.
Strom Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Doris McKenzie

COLUMBIA — Doris Walton McKenzie, 84, of 217 Hunters Blind Drive, widow of Charles J. McKenzie, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 at Lowman Home Nursing Center in White Rock.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Claude A. and Hattie Adams Walton. She was a Winthrop College graduate and a teacher for 34 years, teaching at Westend, Harris and Walhalla schools. She retired from Greenwood School District 50. She was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church, Greenwood, where she was a nursery school teacher for many years.
Survivors include a son, retired Colonel Charles J. McKenzie III of Havre de Grace, Md.; a daughter, Cathy M. Browne of Columbia; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 3 p.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Gary Lyerly. Pallbearers are Don T. Screws, William T. Screws, Andrew J. Mitchell, Bobby R. Langford, Julian Garrett and Joe Snyder.
Visitation is 2-3 today at Blyth Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation Inc., 1501 NW 9th Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Elizabeth Nicholson

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Elizabeth “Lip” Nicholson died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005 at Caton Healthcare. Born in Greenwood County, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Luther and Isabella Bishop Nicholson. She was a former member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Preston Smith of Browns Hill, N.J.; a sister, Almena Sledge of Brooklyn; three grandchildren; and a niece reared in the home, Nancy Walker of Greenwood.
Services are Monday in Brooklyn.
The family is at the home of her sister, 159 Lott St.
Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Margaret Redd

HONEA PATH — Margaret Johnson Redd, 85, of 6 Smith St., widow of John Carl Redd, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005 at Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Pearl O’Shields Johnson. She retired from Honea Path Shirt Plant and was a member of Chiquola Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Bobby Joe Redd and Johnny Redd, both of Honea Path, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Pruitt Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Ty Childers and Jones Brewer. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 10-11 Saturday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a son Johnny Redd, 204 Lee St.
Memorials may be made to Chiquola Baptist Church, 405 E. Greer St., Honea Path, SC 29654. Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge.