Vision becomes reality

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for Greenwood home, dedicates another

June 27, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Sunday was truly a day of blessings for two Greenwood families.
Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity celebrated a groundbreaking and dedication on two residences in the Chalmers Park neighborhood near the Mathews Mill village.
Standing on the vacant lot that will soon be the foundation for her new home, Greenwood resident Jennifer Ferrell said she was excited about the opportunities having her own home will bring.
“I’m ready for this – it’s been a really long road to get here,” she said.
Ferrell said she and her daughter, Courtney Pardue, 9, have been driving by the lot for weeks, waiting on the ground breaking.
“I’m looking forward to my kitchen. I love to cook, and the kitchen will be much bigger than the one I have now,” she said, laughing.
Ferrell said construction on the home should be complete in time for the family to move in by January 2006.
The Ferrell home marks Habitat’s first participation in the Apostles Build program. The program is based on the principle of the 12 Apostles in the Bible, and more than 40 area churches have come together to sponsor the build.
Vickie Brannen, resources director with Habitat, said the project first began in Berkeley County, when a husband-and-wife team came up with the idea to strengthen relationships between Habitat, churches and the community.
Some churches chose to consolidate their efforts to help achieve the $3,500 donation goal for each group, and Brannen said the groups have already raised about 50 percent of the $42,000 goal for construction costs. She said Habitat is still looking for donations from the community to help reach 100 percent of the sponsorship goal.
“We need more pledges and more involvement. We’re taking this project on a leap of faith because we believe in these churches and in the Greenwood community,” Brannen said.
A few houses down the street from Ferrell’s lot, Greenwood resident Beverly Butler welcomed a full house of family and friends as she received the keys to her new Habitat home.
The Rev. Jim Johnston, pastor with St. Mark United Methodist Church, led the group in the dedication ceremony at the Butler home.
The church sponsored the home’s construction, which began last November, and Johnston said many in the church’s congregation donated their time to the project.
“We presented the project to our congregation as a (mission) adventure – we had never done something like this before,” Johnston said. “It’s been a wonderful experience for us, and it has spurred us to do more mission projects. Beverly has become a part of our St. Mark family, and it is an honor for us to build a home for someone who is so appreciative.”
Butler and her two daughters, Ranika, 12, and Jada, 10, plan to move into the home next week.
“It’s overwhelming for me. I consider today to be a big accomplishment for me and my family,” Butler said, adding that she is looking forward to decorating her first home.
As she thanked the members of St. Mark United Methodist Church and Habitat for Humanity for their efforts, a few tears fell from Butler’s eyes.
“I thank God for the vision someone had at the church to donate money to Habitat, and I thank God for Habitat choosing my family for this home,” she told the crowd. “My children and I will forever be thankful for this.”

Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

Rain doesn’t dampen final day

Greenwood’s Vince Hatfield outduels Walter Todd
in playoff to win Festival of Flowers men’s tourney

June 27, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

Greenwood’s Vince Hatfield predicted he would need to finish at 10 under to win the Festival of Flowers Men’s Golf Tournament.
He was one stroke and three holes off.
Hatfield shot a 4-under 68 Sunday to give him a two-day total of 135, tying him with Laurens’ Walter Todd after 36 holes at the Greenwood Country Club.
The pair played three extra holes to decide the winner, which was Hatfield when he sunk a par putt on No. 3.
“It just feels great,” Hatfield said. “Walter Todd is a great player and I’m just so proud to have beaten him.”
It’s the fifth time in 25 tournaments the festival has ended in a playoff. The last time was in 2003, when Stephen Poole beat Mike Gravley on the first playoff hole after the two tied at 138.
Three playoff holes were the most ever needed to decide a tourney champion, GCC head pro Tommy Pendley said.
The duo finished five strokes ahead of Marshall Swails, who was third at 140. West Strieb, Adam Hart and Greenwood’s Jeff McCutcheon tied for fourth at 142.
Hatfield and Todd entered Sunday’s play as two-thirds of the final pairing, along with Raymond Wooten.
And while their scores Saturday were low — Todd was the tourney lead after the first day with a 66, with Hatfield one stroke behind — that was about the only thing they had in common.
Hatfield, who just graduated from Greenwood High School and will be golfing for Clemson University in the fall, was playing in the festival tourney for just the second time.
Hatfield’s father, Ron, followed him during the day.
Todd has played in the festival tournament almost since it began, and has several top 5 finishes to his credit.
Todd’s wife and sons followed him around the course.
Hatfield and Todd also had dissimilar starts Sunday.
Hatfield eagled No. 1 to take the lead from Todd, and after a bogey on three, had birdies on 5 and 6 to open a two-stroke lead.
“The key for me is getting off to a good start and that eagle did it,” Hatfield said. The eagle got Todd’s attention, too.
“I came in with a lead and it was gone right away,” Todd said. “He’s aggressive and he wasn’t scared. I could tell that after the first hole.”
Both players birdied No. 8, the only hole that Todd didn’t par on the front nine, and Hatfield had a bogey on No. 9, cutting his lead to one stroke at the turn.
Todd, who had burned up the front nine Saturday, did the same to the back nine Sunday.
Playing in a steady rain, Todd birdied Nos. 11, 14 and 15. He also had a bogey on No. 12, and nearly took the lead on the par 3 No. 16, but his birdie putt hung on the lip of the cup and would not fall.
“I thought I played in the rain pretty well,” Todd said.
Hatfield also birdied No. 11, then played par golf to 18.
“I just didn’t want to have any bogeys on the backside, so even in the rain I still did what I wanted to do,” Hatfield said.
Hatfield had a scare at 18 when his second shot went left and appeared headed out of bounds, but the ball struck a tree and bounced back into the light rough just off the fairway and he was able to save par.
Tied at 135 after 36 holes, the two returned to No. 1 for the first playoff hole.
While Hatfield’s tee shot went left into the rough, he was still able to get on the green in two.
Todd’s tee shot was even farther left, putting him behind the trees that lined that side of the hole. He punched out, hitting below the trees to within 65 yards of the green and chipped on to the green with his third shot.
“That was the best I could play that (second) shot in 100 years,” Todd said.
Todd two-putted to finish with a bogey, and Hatfield appeared to be ready to take the title.
But his birdie putt stopped well short of the hole and he missed his par putt, giving Todd new life.
“I respected the green too much there,” Hatfield said about his first putt on No. 1. “It was downhill and I was worried about it going to fast, and I just didn’t hit it hard enough.”
The duo moved to par 3 No. 2 and hit drives that were short of the green.
Todd chipped first and put his ball within two feet of the hole. Hatfield followed and nearly chipped in, as his shot rolled right up to the hole and just slid by.
The two tapped in their par putts and moved to par 4 No. 3.
Both were in the fairways with their drives, and Hatfield reached the green with his approach shot.
But Todd’s approached shot went right and was short, and he had to chip on to the green. “I just chunked it,” Todd said of his approach shot.
Todd missed his par putt. Hatfield, after rolling within three feet of the hole on his birdie attempt, knocked his in to win the tournament.

Opinion

Quick response to shelter encouraging and positive

June 27, 2005

Greenwood’s going to the dogs. No, that’s not a slam against the people of the Emerald City. Actually, it’s a positive statement.
Several days ago, Karen Pettay of the Humane Society put out a call for help. Money, food and various equipment were in short supply and were urgently needed at the animal shelter. It made the rounds via email and was printed in this newspaper.
The shelter was housing 326 dogs and cats, considerably more than usual. That created a strain on everything and indeed everyone there.
Needed were cat and kitten dry food (brown-colored preferred); dog and puppy dry foot (brown-colored preferred); canned cat and dog food; Kitty Litter; bleach; dish soap; laundry detergent; and paper towels.

IF THE QUALITY OF A community is measured by its concern for its people, Greenwood has to be among the best, if not at the top of the list. It has shown its depth of caring time and time again. If that same community shows it cares about the welfare of the dogs and cats who need homes and who want nothing but a loving family, it adds to the stars in its crown.
After Pettay’s plea for help was noted, the response from people in an around Greenwood “was overwhelming.” (Pettay’s words).
That says a lot about people in this community. They always come to the fore when needed. They give and give and give, to people and pets in need.

THAT’S UPLIFTING AND encouraging, without question. It would be more encouraging, though, if the Greenwood Humane Society became a regular beneficiary of our contributions, whether food, money or supplies ….. with the emphasis on regular. Weekly or monthly contributions would mean stability and regularity that can be unexpectedly thrown out of balance by the sheer numbers of dogs and cats that end up at the shelter.
Pettay and a loyal and totally unselfish group of volunteers go the extra mile every day to solve shelter and animal problems, which means community problems are addressed every day. Regularly scheduled contributions would mean more than a lot of us can imagine.
Until we can offer each and every cat and dog the affection of a regular home for them, the least we can do is be a friend by helping their helpers regularly.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Betty D. Brown

WARE SHOALS — Betty Dutton Brown, 61, of 30 Walnut St., wife of Buddy Brown, died Sunday, June 26, 2005 at her home.
Born in Ware Shoals, she was a daughter of the late James William and Lucille Timmerman Dutton. She was retired from Park Seed Company, and a member of Ware Shoals Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a son, James Brown of Ekom Beach; four daughters, Renee B. Tumblin of Hickory Tavern, Dianne Brown of Ware Shoals, Angie B. Bolt of Hood River, Ore., and Carol B. Davis of Ware Shoals; a brother, Marvin “Moose” Dutton of Ware Shoals; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are at 11 Wednesday at Ware Shoals Pentecostal Holiness Church, conducted by the Revs. Mac Jones and Aaron Hodges. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is from 7-8:30 Tuesday at Parker-White Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Parker-White Funeral Home, Ware Shoals, is in charge.

Helen Craig

Helen Connelly Craig, 87, of Wesley Commons and formerly of Ninety Six, widow of Larry G. Craig, died Sunday, June 26, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Sue Craig Walker, 5906 Highway 246 South, Ninety Six.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Ailene C. Dickerson

Services for Ailene C. Dickerson of 204 Vintage Court are at 1 Tuesday at Robinson and Son Mortuary Inc., conducted by Bishop Emmanuel Spearman. Burial is in the Ninety Six Community Cemetery.
The family is at the home.
Robinson and Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to robson@emeraldis.com

Dollie Horne

SALUDA — Dollie Day Horne, 81, of 343 Big Red Road, wife of Paul Lake Horne, died Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late C. Edward Sr. and Anna Hallback Day. She was retired from the Saluda Shirt Plant after 46 years of service, and a charter member of Faith Temple Church.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Irene H. Turner of Saluda; a sister, Edna Cockrell of Aiken; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services are at 5 today at Faith Temple Church, conducted by the Revs. Danny Swinnea and Charles Fincannon. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is after the services in the church sanctuary.
Ramey Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.