Festival of Flowers in full bloom

Tours of Park Seed attract gardeners, plant enthusiasts

June 19, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

It was several years ago that Rose Mary Rice heard about Park Seed from her neighbor. Now, the Union resident comes to the park three times a year.
This time, she brought a group of 30 people with her during Saturday’s Park Seed Flower Day.
“I come to get plants, ideas and fertilizer. This is the only place to find that kind of fertilizer,” she said.
Rice said she finds it relaxing to walk through the gardens and it’s a way to get rid of stress.
“The first time, I came on Friday and I came back that Monday with two friends,” she said.
Everywhere Rice goes, she tells people about the gardens at Park Seed, she said.
Debra and Aughtry Hunter, who also traveled with Rice, have a huge yard and want add to their abundant vegetable garden.
“We have a big yard and we need more ideas,” Debra said. “He’s a very good gardener.”
The Hunters, also of Union, already grow cabbage, green beans, squash and tomatoes.
Bradley resident Jean Anderson and Greenwood resident Betty Mitchell started their day early with a morning tour through the gardens at Park Seed.
“It’s wonderful and last year it was so hot,” Anderson said. “We decided to get here early.”
Anderson said she was looking to buy a few things from Park Seed to place in her garden at home.
Mitchell said she was with Anderson to get some perennials to fill up a few dozen pots she has at home.
Karen Martin and her sisters-in-law Kathy Medlock and Kay Medlock have been coming to the park during the festival for years.
The Spartanburg residents love flowers and come ready to buy.
“It gives us ideas about what’s out there,” Martin said.
Every year, Nita Carmichael, of Greenwood, makes a point to tour the gardens and attend the other festival activities.
This year, she brought granddaughters Lara and Liza Bannister.
“It’s so beautiful and the I love the flowers,” Carmichael said.
Although Carmichael admits she’s not a gardener, she still likes to tour the grounds.
“I think it’s wonderful for Greenwood people to have other people who from come all over,” she said.

Celebration for soldiers turns Abbeville red, white and blue

June 19, 2005

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal intern

ABBEVILLE — The city showed its patriotism and love for its soldiers with a “Red, White and Blue Celebration.”
Wanting to honor the soldiers from the 111th Signal Battalion, the town devoted Friday and Saturday to honoring these soldiers, as well as past soldiers.
“We just are going to spend the day together,” celebration director Vicki Strange said. “It’s just Abbeville saying thank you.”
Abbeville Mayor Harold McNeil said that Abbeville wanted to continue to honor the veterans because they were unable to do so when they originally came back. The soldiers returned on May 3, but because it was during the middle of the week, they were unable to have a celebration that everyone could attend.
“This is Abbeville and citizens honoring the troops and taking up the slack where we left off. We just want to show them a little more gratitude for what they did in Iraq,” he said.
Wally Wilson attended the celebration and rode on the float during the parade. After serving as a radio operator as part of Company A in Iraq for a year, Wilson said he appreciates what the town is doing.
“It’s nice to get recognition,” he said.
The parade passed through the town with motorcycles and antique cars leading the way, followed by the float and concluding with a group of children on bicycles and some parents pulling their children in wagons.
They wound their way through the square and then made their way to the Chestnut Street Park. The children continued to play and enjoy the sunshine and some games were set up as well.
Strange said that many people contributed to make the celebration successful.
“Merchants donated all the prizes, (for the games) and a really big thanks goes out to them.”
The biggest thanks went out to the soldiers.
“We are trying to recognize our families, but especially the soldiers,” said Danny Grubbs, Family Services Coordinator.
“This (weekend) really meant a lot.”

Jean Frizell

McCORMICK — Jean Ann Hollinger Frizell, 60, of 125 Tara Drive, wife of Rod Frizell, died Friday, June 17, 2005.
Born in Mullica Hill, N.J., she was a daughter of Herbert and Elizabeth “Bess” Roach Hollinger. She was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in McCormick.
Survivors include her husband of the home; her parents of Strathmere, N.J.; two daughters, Jeanne Potter of Knoxville, Tenn., and Elizabeth Eberly of Waterville, Ohio; two brothers, Herbert Hollinger Jr. of Bryn Mawr, Pa., and Richie Hollinger of Seaville, N.J. and a granddaughter.
Private services will be in New Jersey.
Memorials may be made to the Good Shepherd Life Center building fund, 290 Hwy. 221 N, McCormick S.C., 29835
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Martha Getsinger

Martha Lee Bundrick Getsinger, 91, formerly of Kitson Street, widow of Raymond Eugene Getsinger, died Thursday, June 16, 2005 at McCormick Health Care Center.
Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of the late James H. and Sally Lula Dower Bundrick. She retired from Self Memorial Hospital (now Self Regional Medical Center) after more than 25 years of service. A member of West Side Baptist Church, she was also a member of the Fidelis Sunday School Class and Best of the West Senior Group of the church and The Mothers Club of Greenwood Mills.
Survivors include a son, Raymond “Mutt” Getsinger of Bradley; two grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Revs. Hal Lane and Mike Lewellyn.
Visitation is graveside after the services.
The family is at the home her son, 4202 McCormick Highway, Bradley.
Memorials may be made to West Side Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 216, Greenwood, SC 29648
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Rev. Eugene J. Hamilton

EDGEFIELD — The Rev. Eugene Jackson Hamilton, 79, of Center Spring Road, husband of Sarah Mitchell Hamilton, died Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at University Hospital.
A native of Edgefield County, he was a member of Simmon Ridge Baptist Curch and retired from Dupont Power Department as an operator.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Ernest (Doris) Leysath of Augusta and Josephine Lenora Jackson of Edgefield; a son, Gene Edward (Catherine) Hamilton of Aiken; two sisters, Mrs. George (Alberta) Butler of Washington and Ruth Marshall of Philadelphia; a brother, Walter (Mae) Hamilton of Washington; and four grandchildren.
Services are at 2 Monday at Simmon Ridge Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor Alex Williams.
Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is at the home, or after 2 p.m. today at G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Edgefield, is in charge.

Charles W. Kinard

Charles Walter Kinard, 64, of 116 Old Sample Road, died Friday, June 17, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late Hubert and Annie Maude Benson Kinard. He was a veteran and retired from the military as Engineer Sergeant. He was the owner of Kinard’s Construction Company and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Coronaca.
Survivors include three daughters, Evalina Jewel Lockhart and Mrs. Dexter (Yvette) Chambers, both of Greenwood, and Mrs. John (Charlene Ann) Moyd of Goose Creek; a son, Charles Walter Kinard Jr. of Hartford, Conn,.; a sister, Mrs. Tommie (Thelma) Boozer of Greenwood; a brother, David S. Kinard of Waterloo; and eight grandchildren.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Evalina Jewel Lockhart, Wood Glen Apt. A-6, Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Gunter Morris

JOHNSTON — Leon Gunter Morris, 62, widower of Mary Ann Bartley Morris, died Saturday, June 18, 2005.
A native of Johnston, he was a son of the late Elijah Leon and Marie Gunter Morris. He was the owner of Morris Plumbing Co. and a member of Johnston First Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Fernando (Kristi M.) Palma; two sisters, Mattaline Hicks and Betty Morris Chrisley; and a grandchild.
Graveside services are at 11 Monday at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Kristi M. Palma, 123 Old Plank Road, Johnston.
Memorials may be made to The Cancer Care Institute of Carolina, 111 Miracle Drive, Aiken, S.C., 29801.
Bland Funeral Home, Johnston, is in charge.

Legion team splits tourney games

Post 20 wraps up play in LU/Sand Gnats event today

June 19, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood American Legion Post 20 baseball team split a pair of games Saturday in the second day of the Lander University/Sand Gnats Tournament.
Post 20 defeated the Mega Stars 18s, 9-4, in the morning opener at Greenwood High School, but lost the afternoon game, 7-3, to the Carolina Renegades 18s at Legion Field.
Post 20 closes out its tournament play at 2 today at Legion Field against the Sand Gnats 18s before returning to League VII play 7:30 Monday night at home against Easley.
It’s the first of four league games this week, with three coming at home.
Justin Collier finally got his first legion start for Post 20 after making three relief appearances, taking the mound against the Mega Stars.
The Thornwell High School product made the most his start, giving Post 20 its first complete game of the season.
He struck out six batters, walked none and allowed two runs in seven innings of work.
Collier, who improved to 3-0 with the win, was perfect through the first three innings. Patrick Monair, the Mega Stars’ pitcher, broke up the perfect game with a single to lead off the fourth.
But by that time, Collier already enjoyed a 5-0 lead thanks to his Post 20 offense.
Nick Milford led Greenwood at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a two-out solo home run in the fourth.
Wade Scott and Kyle Behrendt also picked up two hits.
Collier’s bid for a shutout ended in the fifth when he gave up back-to-back homers to Matt Canter and Danny Herman, pulling the Mega Stars to within three runs.
But Post 20 put the game away in the fifth. Four of the first five Greenwood batters in the inning reached base and came around to score. Clint Burden, who reached on a RBI-single, scored to make it 9-2.
While the Post 20 fielders gave Collier a solid effort, committing only one error, the same couldn’t be said for game two starter Justin Lovvorn, who was making his first legion start of the season.
The Post 20 fielders committed six errors against the Renegades, the exact same number of hits the Post 20 batters would collect.
The Renegades, who lost 4-3 to the Mega Stars in the game before scored two runs in the first and one unearned run in the second to go up 3-0.
Post 20 got one run back in the bottom of the second.
Clint Richey and Milford drew consecutive two-out walks on eight pitches.
Josh Lovvorn, getting his first start at catcher, followed with a blooper that fell in-between three different Renegades, allowing Richey to score. Lovvorn’s double, his first career legion base hit, brought Post 20 to within two, 3-1.
But the Renegades broke the game open early in the third. After back-to-back leadoff singles, Chris Butler deposited the first pitch from Lovvorn into the trees behind the left-field fence for a three-run homer.
The Renegades went up 7-1 with one more unearned run in the inning off Lovvorn, who in taking the loss surrendered six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Justin Jenkins made his first appearance on the mound for Greenwood and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks, while striking out five.
Post 20 put a solid inning together in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases with no outs. Blake Moore brought two in with a double down the left field line, scoring Will Gary and Burden to make it 7-3. It was the first hit of the season for Moore, who missed most of this season with tendonitis in his right elbow.

How do you spell father? Not always as you think

June 19, 2005

“Greatness of name in the father oft-times overwhelms the son; they stand too near one another. The shadow kills the growth; so much that we see the grandchild come more and oftener to be heir of the first.” –Ben Jonson, English playwright and poet.
That bit of wisdom speaks to those sons who are destined, for whatever reason, to fail to live up to the accomplishments of their fathers. It could, however, speak to a modern-day phenomenon that too often destines too many sons to grow up never knowing a father.
We live in an age where too many fathers leave home and families to fend for themselves ….. and too many children have no choice. They have no one to give them the love and fatherly advice that goes with it.
Many children today do indeed grow up in their grandparents’ homes. It’s a good thing grandparents are around, too, or there’d be nobody to care when care is needed most.

MANY SINGLE MOTHERS TURN out to be as irresponsible as absentee fathers. Neither shows any concern for the children they’ve brought into the world, children that face a life of uncertainty and hardships that, fortunately, many of us cannot even envision.
Is there any wonder that many of them turn to crime and activities that limit their physical, mental and spiritual growth?
So! Today’s Father’s Day, that special day set aside to let them know they are appreciated. In a hero-worshipping world, those who are fortunate enough to have a responsible father in their lives can count their blessings. They have real-life heroes, but what are they, really? They are the heroes who work hard, put food on the table and clothes on our backs. They are heroes who sacrifice so we can have better lives than they ever had or ever imagined.

THEY ARE HEROES WHO provide us the basics, sure. But, they also are heroes who grace us with the frills that lift life “out of the commonplace into the rare,” comparatively speaking. They are heroes who go to work everyday and never complain. They are heroes who go without so a little benevolent sun can shine in our lives.
For those who have had fathers who made a difference, there should be no doubt. F-a-t-h-e-r is really spelled h-e-r-o. In a world of counterfeit values, these fathers are the real thing, to be sure. On this Father’s Day, however, it’s clear that h-e-r-o is also spelled another way. It’s painfully obvious that it is very often spelled g-r-a-n-d-m-o-t-h-e-r.
It’s right to honor our fathers today, as we did our mothers a few weeks ago. But don’t forget grandmother.