Positively perennial

Park Seed hosts thousands of ‘seed fiend’ visitors during Festival of Flowers

June 18, 2006

BY BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

K.C. Culbertson and granddaughter Katelynne Collins are garden nuts.
Seed fiends.
Plant aficionados.
The two are crazy in love with plants.
So, naturally, they came to Greenwood’s flower Mecca for a day, the Park Seed Flower Day, on Saturday.
Culbertson wants to pass her garden knowledge onto Katelynne by exposing her to many different types of plants.
“She likes things that grow tall,” Culbertson said.
About 3,200 people stopped into Park Seed by midday Saturday, said John Whitmire, facility manager for Park Seed. The number was slightly low compared to previous years, he said.
Jeremy Busbee carried five of his eight kids from Honea Path to Park Seed to grab some potted plants to go around his pool.
Three potted plants the size of garbage cans weighed down Busbee’s cart as he waited in line at the cashier’s table.
Busbee’s wife wears the gardening pants in the family, he said, even though Busbee said he worked at Park Seed 16 years ago.
Jan Parsons of Greenville hauled friend Lisa Kerns along to Park Seed to shop for flowers to put outside her new house.
Parsons wanted to educate herself about different types of plants, so she thought coming to Greenwood would be a good idea. Seeing the plants also would give her an idea of how the plants would look at her house.
Getting up close with the plants and watching them bloom was an important part of their “mission,” Parsons said.
“Touch it, smell it, feel the hairy plants,” she said.
Kerns noticed a lot of variety in the plants. She said she had ordered plants from the Park Seed catalog before, but didn’t know the company’s headquarters was open to the public.
Neither did Culbertson.
“But I will definitely be out here from now on,” she said.

Guests enjoy entertainment opportunities at festival

June 18, 2006

BY BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

The 39th annual South Carolina Festival of Flowers blossomed into its busiest day Saturday with several hundred guests from across the state attending many events.
Julie Steinberg had her daughters Maddie and Anna Margaret’s silhouettes made by Beth Pray of The Silhouette Shoppe at the craft show. Steinberg was thinking about picking up some hairbows and jewelry at the show.
Mary Goldman picked up a bar of soap with toy fish frozen inside for her friend, Olivia, at the craft show. She brought 12-year-old daughter Grace along to help.
Goldman thought she might pick up some other stuff, but she didn’t know for sure.
The New Dixie Storm performed some bluegrass music Saturday night behind Lander University’s library.
Vic and Rowena Lambour can’t get enough bluegrass.
“It’s pure, Americana music,” Vic said.
He’s been listening to it since he was a little boy.
“That’s about 77 years,” Vic Lambour said, laughing.
Wayne and Gail Sartin like the lyrics of bluegrass songs, which talk about old time living. It’s something they can relate to, Wayne Sartin said.
Elvis, or at least Elvis impersonator Jason Sikes, performed classic rock ‘n’ roll tunes for about 40 people Saturday night near the Fountain in Uptown Greenwood.
Janelle Jones came with her son Jason Jones to watch the show because of her lifelong love of the King.
After first seeing Elvis in the 50s, Jones has collected Elvis clocks, magazines and a guitar. She said her favorite Elvis song is “Teddy Bear.”
Dru Moore, of Ninety Six, regrets never meeting the King. Elvis married Priscilla Presley in 1967, the same year Moore was born.
She thinks Jason Sikes does a great job singing and moving like the King.

Victims’ friend says ‘fatal attraction’
likely cause of slayings in Abbeville

June 18, 2006

BY VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

ABBEVILLE — Two people were killed Friday when a local man opened fire on them, authorities say.
A friend of the victims said it was an attraction gone fatally wrong.
Steven Tinch, of Abbeville, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. Abbeville Police Chief Neil Henderson said Saturday more charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
“Right now, it looks domestic in nature,” Henderson said. “We’re still working on it, but it looks like a jealous rage.”
Tinch and victim Shirley Denmore had lived together “off and on,” Henderson said.
Tinch is accused of shooting Denmore to death and shooting her father, Robert O’Neal, at O’Neal’s garage on First Street.
The small, metal building is across the street from a group of manufactured home at the intersection of First Street and Sawmill Road, and around the corner from the busy S.C. 72, a main highway through Abbeville.
“It’s a good neighborhood. They (O’Neal and Denmore) were good, too,” said Melinda Hughey, who has lived across the street from O’Neal’s business for 13 years. Hughey watched the shooting incident unfold.
“They were nice people. They let us use any tools we needed,” Hughey said. “I hate something like this happened. I hate that I had to see it happen.”
Hughey said she was sitting outside about 7 p.m. Friday when Tinch sped to the scene in a car, stopped and got out at the garage. He asked O’Neal what the father was saying about him, Hughey said, and then Tinch shot O’Neal. Hughey said she didn’t see Denmore get shot because she ran into her house. “I was in shock,” she said.
Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley said O’Neal, 58, of 295 Hunter St., Abbeville, died of a single shot in the chest from a .22 caliber rifle, and Denmore, 36, of 192 Whitecreek Road, Abbeville, died of a single shot to the back.
Autopsies were conducted at the hospital in Anderson, and the case remains under investigation by the county coroner’s office, the city police and the State Law Enforcement Division, Ashley said. Tinch was held at the Greenwood County Detention Center and had not had a bond hearing.
Bob Shirley’s insurance business is on S.C. 72, which is West Greenwood Street as it passes through this portion of Abbeville. O’Neal’s garage is behind Shirley’s business, and Shirley had known O’Neal and Denmore for 10 years. O’Neal’s wife works at Advance Auto Parts, which is beside Shirley’s business, Ayres-Shirley Insurance.
“It was a fatal attraction,” Shirley said of Tinch and Denmore’s relationship of about eight months. They didn’t get hassled for being a mixed-race couple, he said, as much as they were always getting into arguments.
“Not really,” Shirley said of the racial hassling question.
“But Robert O’Neal was no different from anybody — you beat on my daughter we have a problem,” Shirley said.
Tinch did not want Denmore to work, Shirley said, because he wanted to monopolize her time.
Denmore had been working at another garage but decided to work with her father so she could make more money and improve her skills as a mechanic. She also had worked as a waitress at the Village Grille, Shirley said, but decided not to go back to work there because of Tinch’s objections.
Tinch wanted her to work on cars in the yard of her home, but Denmore said she did not have the equipment there or the expertise that she could get from her father, Shirley said.
“When you see a small, blonde female inside the engine of a car, you have to respect that,” Shirley said.
“She was scared of him. He came down there (to her house and to the garage). They got restraining orders but they couldn’t enforce it.
“Everybody who knew them saw it coming. What can you do about it (enforcing the restraining orders)? Nothing.”
Shirley said Tinch called him at the insurance company about 7 Friday night and asked Shirley to check to see if O’Neal and Denmore were at the garage. Shirley said he went outside and looked but told Tinch they must have left because he did not see activity.
Shirley said Tinch then said, “You must not have looked too good because I killed both of those (expletive).” Shirley said he called the law, and when they responded, he went back to the garage. Tinch called Shirley’s cell phone but said he couldn’t talk because Shirley had an officer beside him. Then Tinch fled, Shirley said.
He was caught by county officers on Old Mt. Carmel Road, near Denmore’s house, Shirley said. “If he had gotten to that trailer, it would’ve been another Bixby because he had guns,” Shirley said. “He threw his hands up. I had hoped he would run so they could save the taxpayers a lot of money.”
After his arrest, Tinch called Shirley again, at about 4 a.m. from jail.
Shirley said he has known Tinch since the double shooting suspect was 8 years old, and Tinch, who lived nearby, came to the insurance business to clean up.
Before Tinch got involved with the woman who Bob Shirley called “Little Shirley,” because of her small stature, he said Tinch “had a kind demeanor. He would do anything for you. You couldn’t make him mad. He fell in love with her, and it destroyed him.”
The O’Neals and Denmore had considered moving to Pennsylvania, where Shirley said “Bob has a son in the garage business. They wanted to move because of this (Tinch’s jealousy), but Shirley didn’t have a job there.”
“I wish they had moved. I’d miss them,” he said, “but they’d still be alive today.”

Cafe ordinance faces final vote of city council

June 18, 2006

BY VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

On the first day of next month, people who want to drink a mug of beer or a glass of wine outdoors at an Uptown Greenwood cafe could be enjoying their beverage in the summertime heat.
Greenwood City Council could give second and final reading Monday to an ordinance amendment allowing outdoor consumption of the beverages. It’s a potential move that drew supporters and opponents to a crowded municipal courtroom for a public hearing May 15.
Monday’s meeting again will be in the municipal courtroom, which is much larger than the council chambers, the normal city council meeting place, but there will be no public hearing this time around. The Greenwood City Council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
The language of the ordinance amendment being considered is:“The serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages at a permitted Outdoor Cafe is limited to beer and wine and may be served and consumed only by patrons seated at tables. The serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages at a permitted Outdoor Cafe shall not commence prior to July 1, 2006 and shall terminate on December 31, 2006.”
City Manager Steve Brown said the ordinance amendment is written in compliance with city council’s vote for first reading that stipulated a six-month trial period in allowing for the public consumption of beer and wine.
That portion of the ordinance was omitted when the council first authorized outdoor dining last year. But this year the Partnership Alliance working in conjunction with Uptown cafes got behind an effort to put the beer and wine permission back into the ordinance.
The Partnership Alliance is the city/county, public/private group that conducts industry recruitment, business development and quality-of-life enhancement projects.
Jeff Fowler, CEO of the Partnership Alliance, said cities such as Greenville with vibrant and successful downtown business communities have restaurants that allow beer and wine consumption outdoors.
But opponents, such as local pastor Curt Eidson, minister of Emerald Baptist Church, said at the public hearing that the issue should be placed to a referendum.
Eidson presented council a petition signed by 300 people opposing the ordinance amendment.

Post 20 falls to Easley

June 18, 2006

From staff reports


It seems the Greenwood American Legion Post 20 baseball team might not have Easley figured out just yet.
Easley downed Post 20, 13-3, Saturday night at Easley. With the loss, Greenwood falls to 5-2 on the year.
Greenwood hammered Easley, 15-5, on June 5, enacting the 10-run mercy rule on their opponent.
It was a different story Saturday, however, as Greenwood starter Justin Collier gave up five runs in the first inning on the way to his loss on the mound.
At the plate, Greenwood’s John Wilson went 2-for-4 with two runs. Teammate Justin Lawson was 2-3 with an RBI.
Greenwood will play Belton 7:30 Monday at Legion Field.

Opinion

It’s the duty of everyone to encourage vote ... vote

June 18, 2006

It’s said that with money you can get anything you want. That’s not necessarily true, and we have a lot of evidence to prove it.
Take elections, for example. A funny thing happened on the way to the polls last Tuesday. Apathy got in the way of a lot of that folding green stuff.
Prior to the primary, Democrat and Republican statewide candidates spent millions of dollars, mostly on television commercials and mailings to get their names in the heads of the voters. They also traveled all over South Carolina, from the mountains to the seashore, hoping to convince people they were best suited to look after the public’s business.

WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND done, though, the turnout was pitiful. Considering all the money, time, travel and hard work invested, the returns were an embarrassment. It wasn’t a reflection on the candidates, however. They walked the walk and talked the talk. They did their share to make the process worthy of people free to choose their own leaders ... unlike so many other people around the world.
No, the light turnout was a terrible commentary on the people of South Carolina. It’s painfully obvious that too many of us don’t care enough about what goes on with and in our state government. If we did, voting numbers would be positively impressive instead of the other way ‘round.
Unfortunately, voter apathy has become the rule instead of the exception. It’s seen time after time, all over the state.

HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE situation? Do we need fewer elections? Nonpartisan elections? Longer terms? Term limits? Publicly-funded elections? What? The privilege to vote is the foundation of a free society. We have proved to the world what it means. Abusing that privilege can lead to losing it. As they say, use it or lose it.
Some of the primary candidates, as did many voters, felt there were no exciting races this time around and that it contributed to a general apathy. Maybe so. Still, when there are so many statewide offices up for grabs excitement should have nothing to do with it. It’s importance that counts. For each of us. And every election is important. Somehow we have to convince South Carolina voters of that, and it appears we’ll have to do that every time an election comes around.
Remember that! As one candidate noted, “ ... Apathy has led to disillusionment.” It’s a debilitating tendency, and it could be disastrous.

Obituaries

Mattie Gilmer

DONALDS — Mattie Ruby McGill Gilmer, 84, of 1098 Willie Kay Road, wife of James Levi Gilmer, died Saturday, June 17, 2006 at Hospice House, Greenwood.
Born in Franklin County, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Drew Clayton McGill and Amanda Josephine Hayes McGill. She was a homemaker and member of Donalds Baptist Church and the Willing Workers Sunday School Class.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, William Brown (Billy) Gilmer of Donalds and Larry James Gilmer of Honea Path.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Donalds Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Reuel Westbrook. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 7-9 today at Pruitt Funeral Home, Honea Path.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Donalds Baptist Church, 269 N. Main Street, Donalds, SC 29638.
Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge.

Donivan Haskins

HODGES — Donivan Donivan Haskins, 53, of 412 Andrew Chapel Road, husband of Teri Taylor Haskins, died Saturday, June 17, 2006 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Ohio, he was a son of Donivan Haskins and the late Joann Haskins. He was a graduate of Dawson High School, Ohio, and a supervisor at C.R. Crain Company, Greenville.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his father of Ohio; two daughters, Tessa DeLong of Ky. and Amber Freeman of Hodges; a son, Christopher Burton of Savannah, Ga.; a sister, Rhonda Holschuh of Ohio; seven grandchildren.
Graveside services are 3:30 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Wade Burton and Chaplain Lee Burton.
Visitation is 2-3 Monday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Donavan Hollingsworth

Donavan Robert Hollingsworth, 25, of 114 Manning Road, died Friday, June 16, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Emporia, Kan., he was a son of Lisa Andrews Hollingsworth and the late Johnny Robert Hollingsworth.
A graduate of Greenwood High School, he was a member of the ROTC, a Life Scout, and was employed by Greatscapes. He was a member of Harris Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; a fiancée, Tonya Ward Shirley of the home; a son, Donavan James Hollingsworth of the home; maternal grandmother, Margaret Hopkins Andrews of Greenwood; paternal grandmother, Lilly Hollingsworth of Clinton; a brother, John Anthony Hollingsworth of Greenwood.
Memorial services are 3 p.m. today at 330 Pine Drive.
The family is at the home of his maternal grandmother, 330 Pine Drive.
Memorials may be made to Blue Ridge Council Boy Scouts of America PO Box 339, Mauldin, SC 29662.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com