Stolen Scout equipment recovered; man charged

July 6, 2005

From staff reports

More than $1,000 worth of Cub Scout equipment stolen from a storage facility has been recovered, and a Waterloo man has been charged.
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Steven Luther Rodgers, 28, of Waterloo, as he attempted to sell the items at a Greenwood pawnshop.
Deputies detained Rodgers, with the assistance of Greenwood Police Department officers, at the shop and searched his vehicle.
The sheriff’s office said it found incriminating physical evidence, and, during subsequent interviews, received a confession from Rodgers, officials said in a press release. About $1,400 worth of items were recovered.
Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said that in this high-profile case, investigators let it be known on the street that recovering the items was a high priority.
“We really put out the word — and it paid off,” he said. “We let it be known to informants, the pawnshops, even drug dealers who take this stuff, that if you take it, we’re going to be on you.”
That strategy produced a tip that a man was taking the items to a pawnshop, Frederick said.
Rodgers is charged with burglary and grand larceny. He remains in the Greenwood County Detention Center pending a $30,000 bond.
Frederick said the investigation is continuing. Scouting officials had said more than $4,500 worth of items had been taken, but Frederick said the difference between that figure and the $1,400 worth of items recovered might be a matter of how the items are valued. Or, he said, there could be more items that can be recovered as a result of continuing interviews with Rodgers.
“We feel we have recovered at least a majority of the items,” he said.
Scouting officials said Tuesday they would rather wait until the investigation nears completion to discuss the arrest and recovery of the day camp items.
Seventy-five Cub Scouts, ages 6-11, were preparing for a day camp in June when they found out the supplies had been stolen.
The items were in a storage building, but when camp Director Pat Foulk and District Executive Greg Balog went to the building, they found many of their most-needed supplies missing.
Included among the stolen items were BB guns, bows and arrows, sleeping bags, outdoor games, leather stamp sets and other supplies necessary for the camp.
Camp organizers, on their own, were unable to replace the materials, as the supply budget is only $300 a year. That was already spent on supplies purchased earlier.
The community responded after the theft by donating BB guns, archery equipment and other supplies that allowed the camp to continue.

Making way for the future

Palmetto Crossing to be completed in 2008

July 6, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood lost a piece of its history Tuesday when the building that once housed Blazers was torn down to make way for the future.
The future is Palmetto Crossing, a development that will house a gated community and marina on one side of U.S. 221/S.C. 72 and a condominium/business complex on the other side.
The gated community, to be called Planter’s Row, will be constructed on the old Blazers property.
Blazers, a family restaurant, opened in Greenwood in the 1940s. The original structure burned in the 1960s, and a new building, the one that was razed Tuesday, was constructed to replace it, said Norma Britt, former Blazers owner. She and husband Jimmy, who owned and operated Blazers from 1973 until 1998, were on hand to watch as the building was demolished.
“Many a person had their first date here, got engaged here and had their wedding party here,” Jimmy Britt said.
“It was a destination,” added Norma Britt, who was snapping pictures as the building came down. “There are so many memories in that building and they all flash through my mind when I stand here and look at it. It’s sad to see it go, but it’s good for development.”
Bill Gilbert, development manager for Lake Greenwood Developers, LLC, is in full agreement.
“This is going to be a great thing for Greenwood,” he said. “It’s a very unique concept. There’s nothing like it on Lake Greenwood.”
Planter’s Row will consist of 65 two- and three-story Charleston-style carriage houses, featuring elevators. There will also be a pool area and fitness area, a 1,700-foot boardwalk along the lake and a landscaped park, Gilbert said.
Several properties have already been purchased, but a limited number are still available and will be up for sale this month.
Construction on the homes is to begin in early October, Gilbert said. The first of the homes are scheduled for occupancy in late spring or early summer of 2006.
The marina beside the Planter’s Row site is to be converted to a private marina for residents of Planter’s Row and The Pointe, which will be on the other side of the highway.
The Pointe is to house a mix of 60 condominiums, a day dock, restaurants, night spots and retail stores. Several restaurants will feature outdoor decks and live music, Gilbert said.
It will all be housed in a three-and-a-half-story building designed to be compatible with the Charleston style of Planter’s Row, he said.
Floor plans will be available online at www.palmettocrossing.com in August.
Pre-selling of the condominiums is to begin in September or October, and construction is slated to start in late fall.
“We’ve been envisioning this for a while and I think it’s going to be a great addition to Lake Greenwood,” Gilbert said.
The entirety of the project is expected to be complete by the end of 2008, Gilbert said. Anyone interesting in purchasing one of the homes or condominiums is asked to call Steven Gilbert, real estate broker for the properties, at 223-6437.

Eva Adams

SALUDA — Eva Verdugo Adams, 78, of 2379 Old Chappells Ferry Road, died Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Annie Mae Burton

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Annie Mae Williams Burton, 79, of 1300 Talisman Drive, formerly of 407 Milwee Ave., Greenwood, S.C., widow of Allen Burton, died Saturday, July 2, 2005 at University Hospital in Augusta.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., she was a daughter of the late George Williams Sr. and Lucille Austin Williams. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.
Survivors include two brothers, Thomas Williams and George Williams III of Greenwood, and a sister, Lucy Mae Dean of Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Jessie C. Bussey

PLUM BRANCH — Services for Jessie Cartledge Bussey are 1 p.m. Friday at Cedar Springs Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Chuck Smallwood and assisted by the Revs. James Price, Melvin Gordon, Otis Cunningham and Eddie Freeman. Burial is at Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
Pallbearers are Willie Cartledge, Marvin Cartledge, Cloyd Cartledge, Vincent Harrison, Arthur Tucker and Keith Bussey.
Flower bearers are members of Mount Moriah Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.
Viewing is at Walker Funeral Home.
The family is at the home, 135 Old Augusta Road.
Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Francis E. Cress Jr.

WEST COLUMBIA — Francis Earl Cress Jr., 69, widower of Barbara D. Cress, died Monday, July 4, 2005.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Francis Earl Cress Sr. and Bessie Polin Cress. He worked as a sheet metal mechanic and was a member of Three Rivers Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Lydia Cress of Gaston and Leanne Cress of Gilbert; a granddaughter; and a sister, Ann Caton of Lexington.
Memorial services are 10 a.m. Friday at Three Rivers Baptist Church, Irmo. Burial is 11 a.m. in Woodridge Memorial Park.
Visitation is 5-7 Thursday at Greenlawn Funeral Home, Columbia.
Greenlawn Funeral Home is in charge.

Irene McKee

McCORMICK — Irene Pace McKee, 74, of Route 2 Box 45, widow of George Raymond “Buck” McKee, died Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Ruby Stone

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Ruby Mae Baker Stone, 86, wife of James Ray Stone, died Monday, July 4, 2005 at St. Joseph Hospital.
Born in Clarksville, she was a daughter of the late Fady and Lee English Baker. She was a retired spinner from Coats & Clark Mill and a member of Southside Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; two grandchildren; and a stepson, Jimmy Stone of Hampton, Va.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Hatcher, Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, conducted by the Rev. Dwayne Willis.
Burial is in Mount Olive Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 2-3 today at the funeral home.
Hatcher, Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, 2502 Richmond Hill Road, is in charge.

Edna Mae Wideman

HODGES — Services for Edna Mae Gaskin Wideman, of 118 Embassy Court, are noon Thursday at Holy Springs Baptist Church, Cokesbury, with the Rev. James W. Paul Sr. officiating and the Rev. James Moss presiding. Assisting are the Revs. Delores Henderson and Harry Mansel. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers are Robert Roman, John Louis Moss, Sammy Robinson, Willie T. Moss, Steven Mansel, Roy Parks Jr., Willie Robinson and Thomas Frazier. Flower bearers are nieces. Visitation is at 3616 Highway 246 N. Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of Edna Mae Wideman in Monday’s paper, a name was listed incorrectly in the information given to The Index-Journal. Survivors include a brother, Frank Junior Gaskin of Greenwood.

Greenwood Wildcats off to rough start to 2005 football season

July 6, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood Wildcats semi-professional football team was set to have a tryout at 6:30 Tuesday night at the Brewer Middle School football field.
There was just one problem: only one person showed up for the tryout.
The Wildcats are part of the North and South Carolina Football League and are seeking players looking to keep their dreams of professional football alive.
As far as the low turnout is concerned, team owner and president John Morrow thinks it is merely a hiccup in the Wildcats’ plans.
“We’ll be back out here next Tuesday night,” Morrow said. “We’re gonna get this thing up and running. We’re looking for great things out of this.”
Morrow said he thought Monday’s Independence Day holiday had an adverse effect on the Wildcats’ tryout.
“A lot of the guys had the day off on Monday and probably did a little partying,” Morrow said. “Then, they went back to work today. After work, they probably just went home and sat down.”
The lone attendee was former Greenwood High School player Johnathon Harrison.
Harrison expressed his frustration at the turnout.
“Yeah, it’s a little disappointing,” he said. “I was excited to come out and play. I was ready to hit somebody. I’ll be ready next Tuesday.”
Harrison, who last played at Greenwood High in 2002, has been biding his time for another opportunity to play the game he loves.
“I’m looking at this as a second chance,” said Harrison, who plays defensive tackle. “I’ve been playing pick-up games and flag football at the YMCA. I’ve been working out and running and trying to stay in shape.”
Morrow said he was not altogether surprised at the meager initial interest.
“I kind of expected it,” Morrow said. “We have only advertised in the paper once. And with it being so close to July Fourth, I knew it was going to hurt us.”
Among the no-shows at the tryout was Wildcats coach James Gray. Morrow said he was not sure why Gray was not available.
“I don’t know where coach Gray is,” Morrow said. “He’s normally very dependable. He’ll be here next time.” Morrow said he hoped some players who have played semi-pro football in Greenwood in the past would appear at the next tryout.
“I’m going to call some of these veterans,” he said. “Johnathon said he has a partner that wants to play, and I’m going to round up the veterans. The veterans like to procrastinate sometimes.”
Morrow maintains high hopes for the Wildcats’ season.
“We used to have some great semi-pro ball down here about 10 years ago,” said Morrow, referring to the highly competitive Greenwood Raiders teams in the 1990s.
“We want this to be as good or better as back then.”

Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal.

Battle over new justice will further polarize us

July 6, 2005

As soon as Sandra Day O’Connor announced her resignation from the U. S. Supreme Court a lot of people started wondering when the next shoe would fall.
That is, they’re expecting now to see the other side of the deal in the U. S. Senate that “allowed” some of President Bush’s nominees to the federal bench to be voted on. With a Republican majority, of course, that meant approval.
Now, though, the replacement for Justice O’Connor, whoever it might be, faces a tough fight. Democrats, as immediately shown by Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, are sure to go all out to not only defeat the nomination, but to rub the president’s nose in the dirt.
O’Connor, to be sure, deserves the accolades she’s received. She has served, with distinction, just short of a quarter of a century.

FURTHERMORE, BEING THE first female Supreme Court justice, she has shown that women are capable of excelling in any job government or any other situation has to offer.
Her leaving, though, opens the door to new political blood-letting. It means that whatever happens now will determine for time to come whether the acrimony that has long surrounded Supreme Court nominations will continue. Indications are that it will, and that’s unfortunate for the country. It will automatically continue the polarizing routine that has defined too much of federal government activity in recent times.
People in the Palmetto State will remember the hostile environment surrounding the nomination of Judge Clement Haynsworth. Haynsworth, a South Carolinian, was one of the first during the last half century to be vilified by various senators and groups, and that, along with the battle over Robert Bork, went a long way toward setting the tone for most nominations to follow.

ALTHOUGH THE ATMOSPHERE in the U. S. Senate is likely to be as rancorous as any before, there will be others who will add to the pressures that will squeeze civility to the limit. Advocacy groups for and against a whole range of issues started beating their drums almost before Justice O’Connor finished speaking.
Considering the “lay of the land,” there hardly seems any hope that senators – and others – will do anything to calm the political waters.
If past is prologue, personal attacks against any nominee are likely to widen the divide. Too bad. The Senate has a chance to show it can handle the advise and consent obligation with respect and dignity. It won’t, and that is the pity.