Food, fun, fireworks draw
hundreds to Piedmont Tech

July 5, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

With his Black and Decker electric screwdriver spinning a 3-foot-long beater in a bucket full of batter, Herman Paysinger tells his secret to making the best funnel cakes.
Nice try.
Despite many attempts from loyal patrons to plead for his secret recipe, Paysinger said he’s not telling anybody.
But what he will tell any funnel cake enthusiast who dares to stand near his huge tub of 400-degree grease is that he can’t claim the recipe as his own.
More than 12 years before Paysinger added a tent on to his traveling food stand for events such as Tuesday’s Fourth of July Family Fun Day at Piedmont Tech, he was in Georgia when he noticed a woman at another stand selling the cakes like, well, hot cakes.
For three days, the man known for his homemade lemonade pleaded with her for the recipe, which she finally agreed to give him, on one condition — that he share his lemonade recipe with her.
After some tweaking to make the cakes his own, Paysinger has been selling the grease-soaked, sugar-showered tastes of summer ever since.
“There are two things people love to eat and that’s grease and sugar,” Paysinger said. “And I’ve got both.”
But it isn’t the grease and sugar bringing Dan Leary, of Abbeville, back to Paysinger’s tent 10 times a night when he sees him at different events. It’s the homemade lemonade.
“Trust me, I’m a connoisseur when it comes to lemonade, or pretty much any food,” he said rubbing his tummy and taking his third glass for the night.
But don’t think it’s an easy job pulling in some of the thousands of people in their flip flops and patriotic colors who walked Piedmont Tech’s grounds on their day off.
Erica Landers, who was working with Paysinger for the first time Tuesday, said she has learned how hard it is to do the flip.
After zig-zagging the “secret ingredients” into a pot held down in boiling grease, the floating cake has to be “flipped,” a delicate process that can end with a burn scar on the worker’s grease splashed arm.
Avoiding a run-in with the grease, Lander seemed to stick to the second thing people will always eat — the sugar.
After 37 years of working as dean in different colleges, Gerry Owens retired from Piedmont Tech in March. But the 4th of July event coordinator still took part in the college’s 20th anniversary celebration this year.
“This is the college’s way to say ‘thank you’ to the seven-county community that has supported us over the years,” Owens said.
Owens became one of the founders of the festival after visiting the community college his brother works at in Delaware. It was there he saw what would quickly become a Greenwood tradition.
The retiree said about 10,000 to 15,000 people set up their chairs all around Piedmont Tech to see the giant fireworks display that grows every year. While attractions, such as the dog and baby shows, have come and gone over the years, Owens said the people keep coming back even during the eight years it rained.
Though he said he can never fully withdraw from the event, Owens said someone else will coordinate and continue to make it better.
“It’s like raising a child, you want to see it go on and do well each year,” Owens said.

Obituaries

Margaret B. Bryan

CLINTON — Margaret Bell Bryan, 88, of 202 Spruce Street, widow of Ransom E. Bryan, passed away Monday, July 03, 2006 at St. Francis Hospital.
Born in Greenwood Co., she was the daughter of the late Alma W. and Kate Madden Bell. She was a supervisor for the Indiana Bell Phone Company and a member of Temple Baptist Church.
Surviving is one daughter, Anne Parker and husband Billy of Clinton; two sons, Ransom E. Bryan, Jr. and wife Joyce of Greenwood, IN. and William M. Bryan and wife Kate of Mooresville, IN.; eleven grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Memorial services will be 11:00 am, Thursday, July 6, 2006 at Temple Baptist Church conducted by Rev. David Johnston.
The family will be at the residence and will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 am before the service at the church.
The Kennedy Mortuary, Laurens.
PAID OBITUARY

Betty Jean Dobbins

Betty Jean Dobbins, 75, of 129 Utopia Acres Drive, wife of Joseph Newton Dobbins, Jr. died July 3, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late James Otis and Aulene Christian Dodgen. She retired from Nantex and was a member of Fraser Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Sammy Dodgen and Sonny Dodgen.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a daughter, Vicky Bartless and her husband Bobby of Greenwood; a sister, Bertha Devore of Greenwood; a brother, Johnny Dodgen of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Robby Bartless of Rock Hill, Kelly Sherrill of Lancaster, Scotty Bartless of Greenwood; and a great grandson, Connor Bartless of Greenwood.
Services will be 11:00 am Thursday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Shauna Kelly officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Scott, Robby, Charles “Scotty”, Eddie, and Henry Bartless and Steve Sherrill.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends before the service on Thursday from 10:00 until 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to Fraser Presbyterian Church, 400 Cross Street, Greenwood, SC, 29646.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Vicky Bartless, 312 East Scotch Cross Road, Greenwood, SC, 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
PAID OBITUARY

Bobby J. Dykes Sr.

ASHEVILLE — Bobby J. Dykes Sr., 64, of 6 Fernbrook Place, died Monday, July 3, 2006.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Frances Dykes and the late Ollie Dykes. He was a member of North Asheville Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; his wife, Sandra Reeves Dykes; a brother, Butch Dykes of Greenwood; a sister, Linda Woods Greenwood.
Services are 3 p.m. Thursday at North Asheville Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Jim Dykes and Dr. Ralph Sexton Jr. Burial is in West Memorial Park, Weaverville.
Visitation is 6-8 Wednesday at North Asheville Baptist Church.
West Funeral Home, Weaverville, is in charge.

George E. Langley Jr.

PLUM BRANCH — George E. Langley Jr., of Martin Freeland Rd., died Tuesday, 7-4-2006 at his residence.
Funeral Services will be held Friday 7-7-06 at 11 A.M. at St. Paul United Methodist Church with burial in Plum Branch Cemetery with Masonic Rites.
Mr. Langley was a native of Plum Branch and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He was a retired Crane Operator. He was a Paratrooper in the U.S. Army and was a member of Mine Lodge 117 and the Scottish Rites of S.C.
Survivors include his wife Doris Addy Langley, 2 daughters- Toye L. Willis and Rebekah L. Morgan, both of Plum Branch. 2 sisters- Bettye L. Butler, Plum Branch, Winnie Kennedy - Friedrich, Winston-Salem, N.C., 3 grandchildren- Thomas Langley Willis, Addy Gayle Willis, and Jamie Emanuel Morgan.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church P.O. Box 9, Plum Branch, S.C. 29845.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Church.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Adolphus E. Newell

ABBEVILLE — Adolphus E. Newell, 82, of 336 Hwy 72 W., died Monday, July 3, 2006 at the VA Hospital in Augusta, GA. He was born in Abbeville County to the late Andrew and Louise Milford Newell. Mr. Newell served his country proudly in the United States Army serving in WWII. He was a member of the Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church and was a huge help to so many people, Adolphus enjoyed fishing and shrimping and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by four of his brothers, Westfield Newell, Richard Newell, Edward Newell, and Joe Newell.
Surviving Mr. Newell are his three sisters, Thelma Suber, Doris Richey, and Polly Smith all of Abbeville, three brothers, Jack Newell, Ray Newell, and Mortimer Newell all of Abbeville, and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1:30PM to 2:30PM Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services conducted by the Rev. Webster Curry will begin at 3:00PM Wednesday, July 5, 2006 in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
The family are at their respective homes.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Newell may be sent to the Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church 194 Hwy 20 Abbeville, SC 29620 OR to the HospiceCare of the Piedmont 408 W. Alexander St. Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville is assiting the Newell family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harrisfuneral.com
PAID OBITUARY

Charles Piontek

Charles R. Piontek, 67, of 412 Hunters Creek Blvd., husband of Margaret Mary “Peggy” Belanger Piontek,died Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

George Sellars

George Dewitt Sellars, 31, of 525 Circle Drive, died Monday, July 3, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a brother, Russell Sellars, 527 Circle Drive.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Clare Walker

LAKE WYLIE — Clare Fowler Walker, 82, of Lake Wylie, formerly of McCormick, widow of Oliver Randolph “Ran” Walker, died Monday, July 3, 2006 at Piedmont Medical Center, Rock Hill.
Born in Mahonoy City, Pa., she was a retired administrative assistant from Milliken and a member of Troy United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a son, Randy Walker of Charlotte, N.C.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Troy United Methodist Church conducted by the Rev. Eddie Capps. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial is in Troy Cemetery.
Visitation is at the church following service.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Opinion

Motorists keep guessing on pricing for gasoline

July 5, 2006

While the instability of gasoline prices continues to attract attention, the debate continues as well. As always, the question uppermost in many minds is whether high prices are justified or are consumers being taken for a ride ..... and no pun intended.
That’s not a new concern for motorists, either. It’s been part of daily conversation among South Carolinians since the roller-coaster gasoline market began. Actually, it’s been a bone of contention everywhere, from coast to coast.
There are many people convinced that big oil companies are part of the problem instead of the solution. In fact, it would be difficult to prove to those people they are not being gouged at the pump.

WHO TO BLAME IS DEBATABLE. To motorists, it doesn’t matter. They only know that the constant volatility of pricing puts them in an economic bind.
Over time, a variety of “reasons” for the price and availability fluctuations have been discussed over and over. Some believe it’s a market manipulated by and for a variety of people and motivations, with money always a major part of the equation. Others have no doubts that the problem could at least be reduced, if not eliminated, if more exploration for oil was allowed. Oil deposits in Alaska and offshore in particular are two areas that could relieve the pressures on American consumers, they firmly believe.
There is a congressional move on for that, but opponents continue to fight it.

WHATEVER THE ANSWERS, ONE thing does very little to allay the notions that a price-gouging conspiracy is a continuously occurring factor. Between holidays, prices usually drop. When holidays approach, though, the prices begin to escalate as if they are totally out of control. A few days before this Independence Day, for example, gasoline prices jumped around 16 cents per gallon within a week’s time.
That’s a scenario played out for every holiday. Whether it’s because of market forces or anything else, it more than likely would be impossible to convince all consumers that it’s not conspiratorial. In their minds, that’s what they see.
Whether it’s true or not, the way it looks, that’s not all that hard to believe, especially by those who are on fixed incomes and indeed all who find it hard to cope.

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