Ware Shoals is going to the dogs

Specialty Pet Food breaks ground on headquarters

December 2, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — A French company known for creating flavoring for dog food will be making its new United States headquarters near Ware Shoals in 2007.
SPF, or Specialty Pet Food, is a company that makes liquid and powder palatability enhancers for pet food that entices dogs and cats, said Georges Marco, chief executive officer for SPF USA.
The company broke ground for its new plant Friday morning at the Greenwood County Business Park on S.C. 25 in front of a crowd of local officials, including state Rep. Gene Pinson and Greenwood and Ware Shoals mayors Floyd Nicholson and George Rush.
Rush said Ware Shoals looks forward to having a long and productive relationship with SPF.
He knows that they’re concerned with excellence in making palatability enhancers.
“That’s a big long word that means ‘tastes good,’” Rush said to chuckles from the audience.
Marco said SPF will hire about 60 new employees when the plant opens, but might hire 20 more in the future.
SPF will open its new U.S. manufacturing headquarters by December 2007, giving the company about 12 months to build the plant, said Olivier Lavorel, project manager for SPF USA.
“Quite a big deal,” he said.
The company has 13 facilities worldwide, but chose to enter the U.S. market because it’s the biggest in the world, Marco said.
He said he has noticed more and more new pet products in pet shops all the time since he moved to the United States two years ago.
SPF already has a plant in Wisconsin, but the company wanted plants in the Northern and Southern United States to better physically steady its position in the U.S. market, Marco said.
Some of the benefits SPF brings to Greenwood County includes promoting the state and county to foreign clients and other businesses.
“It must be a win-win situation,” Marco said.
SPF’s plant will also depend on the resources of the surrounding area to function, so residents don’t have to fear the plant relocating.
The company searched in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina before finding the right site for the plant in Greenwood County, Lavorel said.
Jack W. Ellenberg, deputy secretary for New Investments for South Carolina’s Department of Commerce, said SPF’s choice of South Carolina is a positive sign for the rest of the global community that the state has the resources that they need.
South Carolina has been ranked No. 1 in the United State for friendliness to businesses.
SPF itself also is a great company, shown in their business success, Ellenberg said.
“Good fortune comes to those who work the hardest,” he said.
SPF also donated $1,000 to the Humane Society of Greenwood.

‘Nativity’ leaves viewers wanting more

December 2, 2006

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Viewers of Greenwood’s first showing of “The Nativity Story” were left with an insatiable appetite.
They wanted more.
Many simply didn’t want the movie to end.
As the film reached its climactic scene — the birth of the Christ-child to Mary and Joseph in a lowly Bethlehem stable — the audience was both still and silent.
Nothing moved.
“I was wanting them to go ahead and finish the story,” Carl Lloyd said. “I didn’t want it to be over. It was better than I thought (it would be). That’s real faith right there.”
Margie Peeler found herself moved emotionally.
“It was a fabulous story,” she said. “I loved it. I was a little emotional there — look at my eyes.”
Amy Holland brought her two children to see New Line Cinema’s recreation of the Christmas story. According to mom, both were mesmerized by the movie.
“It was outstanding,” Holland said. “I don’t think either of my kids moved during the entire movie. If that doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, then nothing will.”
Theater six at the Greenwood Dickinson 10 was more than halfway filled to capacity for the early showing on Friday, a 4:40 p.m. showtime.
Friday’s showing was likely not the last that some viewers will attend, as several said they would likely watch the film again at some point in the near future.
“I just told someone that I’d like to come back and see that again,” said Laverne Stone, of Saluda, following the movie. “It was all good. The music and the acting was good and the scenery was great.”
“It made you think,” Stone added.
But this film was no cliffhanger.
The biblical account of the birth of Christ is as well known among our population as any story ever told.
However, that didn’t stop the audience from reacting as if the film were a thriller, as many hung upon every word.
Time will tell as to whether Christians (as well as non-believers) will flock in droves to see the new film as it opens nationwide this weekend.
But if the reaction to Greenwood’s first showing is any indication, the film has a chance at gathering real staying power for the foreseeable future.
“It was just the story,” Bobby Bannister offered as to why he enjoyed the movie. “I didn’t know that much about (the movie), but it was better than I thought it would be.”
Today’s showtimes at the Greenwood Dickinson 10 are noon, 2:20 p.m., 4:40, 7 and 9:20. The movie will play Sunday at 2:20, 4:40 and 7.

Hoping for a brighter future during World AIDS Day

Stats, stories used as call to arms

December 2, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Beth Bethel’s life has been intertwined with the AIDS epidemic.
The project manager of ACORE/CORA recalls when her son Charlie called her in 1992 after a woman he had a brief affair with notified him that another man she slept with was HIV positive.
Charlie avoided getting tested for six months, causing Bethel and her son terror, anxiety, guilt and remorse.
Then Bethel’s cousin John Michael died of the disease in 1993, one of 45,743 people to die in the United States that year from a disease that took 30 lives in 1981, when it was first recorded by the Centers for Disease Control.
John Michael’s older brother dismissed his death as a consequence of moving to San Francisco and living with another man.
Bethel had been aware of the AIDS epidemic before then, she told the audience Friday night at the World AIDS Day observance at the Long Cane African Methodist Episcopal Church’s community development center, but it had never come home until her son and cousin were affected.
World AIDS Day is a time for people to unite and fight against the disease, end prejudice against people who have HIV or AIDS, and find out where care and support are available, said Stephen Tabor, board chairman for the Upper Savannah Care Consortium, an organization that helps AIDS and HIV patients get the care they need.
Fortunately, Charlie didn’t contract HIV. But preventing the disease is still crucial to Bethel, who said that to halt the charge of AIDS, people must move beyond seeing the disease as punishment for sexually promiscuous behavior and drug use.
“We are all sinners, yet not all of us are HIV positive,” she said. “In churches, in schools, around family supper tables and in our most intimate moments, we must learn to talk about sex, risk and risk reduction.”
World AIDS Day organizers stuck to the overwhelming facts during the event.
Tabor said about 40 million people have contracted AIDS so far worldwide, with 25 million dying in all.
About 4.3 million will get AIDS this year, with 400,000 dying of the disease.
Jason Williams, executive director of the USCC, said he was happy with the turnout for World AIDS Day.
“I’m always pleased to see young people at these events,” he said.
Educating youngsters about AIDS is very important.
The Old Mt. Zion Bell Ringers played “Silent Night” and other Christmas songs for the event, and Long Cane’s praise dancers followed with an interpretive dance.
John Keenan and Maddie Coyle from the Greenwood Community Theatre performed a scene from “The Little Prince” at the observance.
Tabor highlighted one of the lines from the scene prior to a candle-lighting ceremony.
“Just because I’m gone, doesn’t mean I’ve gone away,” he said.
Tabor read the names of 100 people who have died of AIDS in Greenwood, Laurens, Abbeville, McCormick, Saluda, Newberry and Edgefield counties since 1996, while candles were lit for each person.
Susan Thompson stood illuminated before the candles after helping light them during the reading ceremony.
As an HIV and AIDS social worker, she’s known many of the people on the list of the dead.
“That’s the hard part,” Thompson said.
They’re people to her, not just candles and bags.

Obituaries

Luther Belcher Sr.

HODGES — Luther Belcher Sr., 84, of 108 Cromer Road, husband of Izora M. Belcher, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center. Born in Abbeville, he was a son of the late John West Belcher and Frances Robinson Belcher. He was a former employee of Park Seed and a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.
He is survived by, in addition to his wife of the home, three sons, Luther Belcher, Jr., Larry Belcher, both of Hodges, and Freddie Belcher of Greenwood; two daughters, Mary F. Belcher of the home and Ojetta B. Williams of Hodges; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Abbeville with Reverend Willie J. Frazier officiating.
Burial will be in the Oakbrook Memorial Park. Flower bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Roy Blackwell

HONEA PATH — Roy Melvin Blackwell, 65, husband of Nancy Hembree Blackwell, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006 at Anderson Area Medical Center.
Born in Laurens County, he was a son of the late Homer and Frances Knight Blackwell. He was retired from The Torrington Co. and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, Vietnam. He was of the Baptist Faith.
Surviving are his wife of the home, three sons, Gerald, Roger Dale and David Robinson, all of Honea Path, one sister, Mrs. Sue Blackwell Hahn of Hodges, and two grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by a sister Janelle Blackwell Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Honea Path Church of God with Rev. George Cooper officiating.
Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories with Military Rites.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Pruitt Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Sunday. The family is at the home.

Tom Burroughs

HODGES — Hope Thomas Burroughs, 75, of 3514 Highway 246 North, husband of Peggy Thompson Burroughs, died Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Hodges, he was a son of the late James Thomas and Hassie Belle Hardman Burroughs. He attended Greenwood High School and was retired from the construction industry. During his years in construction, Mr. Burroughs supervised the building of the first AmTrack in Washington, DC, inaugural stands for President Nixon, part of the Dulles International Airport, the West Wing of the Pentagon and many other accomplishments, which included teaching his son and his grandsons his trade as a builder. He was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict and was a member of Fountain of Life Church of God of Prophecy, where he played the guitar for worship for 25 years.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Chad Hollingsworth.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Deborah Ann McCutcheon of Greenwood; a son, Thomas Michael Burroughs of Greenwood; two grandsons raised in the home, Jonathan Burroughs and Tyler McCutcheon, both of Greenwood; a sister, Martha Kate Dorn of Waterloo; seven grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mack Willis and the Rev. Dewain Willis officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Tyler McCutcheon, Troy McDonald, Jimmy Hollingsworth, Dennis Burroughs, Cary Wilkie, Danny Burroughs and Ronnie McCutcheon.
Honorary escort will be Kenneth Westmoreland, Peanut Green, Terry Koon, Eric Hansen, Keith Timms, Doyle Timms, Sam Smith and Jim Bowser.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Fountain of Life Church of God of Prophecy, 302 Blyth Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Alvin McClinton Lester

TROY — Alvin McClinton Lester, 86, of 8001 Twigg St., widower of Mary Frances Bailey Lester, died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 at Self Memorial Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Carlton, Ga., he was a son of the late Thomas and Ella Black Lester. He had lived in Troy since 1954 and was a carpenter and former employee of McCormick Mill. He was a member of Troy A.R.P. Church.
Survivors include two sons, Larry M. Lester of Troy and Howard W. Lester of Belvedere; a daughter, Mary “Bonnie” Clegg of Parksville; a sister, Katie Arlond of Marietta, Ga.; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Troy Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Doug White.
Pallbearers are Tony, Randy, Donnie and Curtis Clegg, Wayne Lester and Josh Holliday.
The family is at the home of his son Larry Lester.
Strom Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Sarah Beaudrot Tobey

REHOBOTH, Mass. — Sarah (Beaudrot) Tobey, 82, widow of Paul L. Tobey, long-time resident of Rehoboth, died peacefully at her home on Nov. 30. Born in Greenwood, SC, she was the daughter of the late Clarence B. and Lula (Sheppard) Beaudrot. In the 1930’s, Mrs. Tobey was a junior high school English teacher in Pickens and Bennettsville, SC. During the more than sixty years since, she was an accomplished homemaker, a loving mother, a needlework artist and the center of a large extended family. She was a member of the Rehoboth Congregational Church and its W.K.B. She was also a member of the Rehoboth Garden Club, the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society and the RI Country Club. Mrs. Tobey leaves a son, Robert S. Tobey and wife, Rica, daughters Anne T. Arnold and husband, Larry, Marie T. Raymond and husband, Dick, S. Paula Clark and husband, Richard, 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Clarence L. Beaudrot. A Memorial Service will be held on Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m. in the Rehoboth Congregational Church, Bay State Rd., Rehoboth. Burial in the Rehoboth Village Cemetery is private. Calling hours and flowers respectfully omitted. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Rehoboth Congregational Church, P.O. Box 325, Rehoboth, MA 02769; to Beacon Hospice, 45 No. Main St., Fall River, MA 02720; or to the Rehoboth Garden Club, 250 County St., Rehoboth, MA 02769. Arrangements by the J.H. Williams & Co. funeral home, 210 Taunton Ave., East Providence, RI.

Sophie Watterson

Sophie Lou Williams Watterson, 96, resident of 703 Montague Ave., widow of Leon Reed Watterson, Jr., died Dec. 1, 2006 at her home.
Born in Edgefield County, Aug. 1, 1910, she was a daughter of the late Caraway Hampden Brooks “Carr” and Emmie Griffis Williams. She was formerly employed as a bookkeeper by Gallant-Belk and along with her late sister, Virginia W. Byrd, operated a catering business.
Mrs. Watterson was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Benson Sunday School Class of the church.
Surviving are a son, Leon Reed Watterson, III and wife, Nancy, of the home; a grandson, Heath Leonard Watterson and wife, Kathy, of Greenwood; great-granddaughters, Sarah Nicole Watterson and Sophie Suzanne Watterson; a dear friend, Thays Lee Smith and caregivers, Pat Manley, Earline Watts and Grace Adams.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Dr. Tony Hopkins and Rev. Charles Moates officiating.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home on Montague Avenue and will receive friends at the graveside immediately following the service.
Flowers are to be omitted and memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Watterson family.

Jimmie C. Williams

Jimmie C. Williams, 89, of 1415 Parkway Road, husband of Agnes Daniel Williams, died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006 at Magnolia Manor. Born in Greenwood County, he was the son of the late Gene Williams and Pearl Williams. He was a member of Old Field Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Survivors include his wife of Greenwood; two sisters, Ella Ruth Hamilton and Carrie Bussey of Detroit, MI; one stepsister, Mary Goodwin of Detroit, MI. Funeral services are 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 at Old Field Bethel A.M.E. Church, conducted by Reverend Jackie Whitted. Burial is in the church cemetery. Body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. The family will be at the home of his nephew James Daniel, 1303 Florida Avenue Ext. Online condolences can be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com.
Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the Williams family.

Opinion

‘Progress’ in technology can have negative effect

December 2, 2006

After making television picture tubes in South Carolina for 15 years, Japanese electronics giant Hitachi Ltd is closing its plant in Greenville. That will put 180 or so workers out of work at the end of January.
Once more, no doubt, politicians will blame each other. Many will lay the loss of jobs at Gov. Mark Sanford’s feet, as they have done before. That’s absurd. Neither the governor nor any other individual can change the course of progress. That’s obvious. There is another dominant factor to add to the mix that helps to clarify the picture: rapidly changing technology.
The Hitachi losses come because of those changes. New flat-screen television is taking over the market and standard TV picture tubes that are produced in the Greenville Hitachi plant are fading into memory.

NEW TECHNOLOGY, IN FACT, has changed many products. As a result many jobs have been lost, adding to the unemployment figures for the state. It’s a consumer-driven marketplace and manufacturers that want to survive have to change, too.
In recent times South Carolina, as have other states, has experienced a loss of jobs in more than a few situations.
Whether because of new technology or the global economy, the effect is the same. Look at what’s happened to the Greenwood textile industry. The result? Many lost jobs.
So, then, new technology, the global economy, and other factors are the culprits that have had a negative impact on the lives of many South Carolinians. When jobs are lost or when there are other negatives, it’s human nature to look for scapegoats, and the governor is the easiest person to fill that role, it seems.

IN REALITY, GOV. SANFORD has been the target of slings and arrows from his opponents when it hasn’t been justified.
There are sure to be other changes in the Palmetto State employment ranks because of future technological influence. If not now, changes will occur in the normal course of events. It’s not always fair to put the blame on the governor, now or in the future. Some will try, though, as they have in the past. Consider it for what it is: partisan politics.
Technology is a marvelous thing. It improves many things, including lives. Sometimes, though, it has the opposite effect, and fingers begin to point. That’s the time to remember it’s technology, that can affect jobs, not necessarily people