Sanford: Local residents should ‘start
conversations’ about state spending

June 8, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Gov. Mark Sanford is shown work stations assembled by employees at Item Southeast at its Kateway location in Greenwood by Jim Robinson, a partner with the company. Parts for the customized work stations come in from Germany through Ohio and are assembled, based on customers’ specifications, at the local business.

Taking his tour of South Carolina out into the countryside, Gov. Mark Sanford uses a “country” term — “putting hay in the barn” — to describe what he wants the Legislature to do with part of a $1.22 billion state surplus.
State lawmakers have agreed to use part of the money to pay back trust funds, raided during lean budget years, and part to provide property tax relief from local school taxes.
But Sanford said he’s concerned that another $759 million is going toward new government spending and not into reserve funds.
That new government spending carries with it an obligation to spend at least that much more next year, and the year after that, and the year after that, Sanford said.
“We need to put hay into the barn when times are good,” Sanford said. “We’re not putting hay into the barn. We need a bit of prudence to not get ahead of ourselves with spending.”
Sanford’s appearance Wednesday in Greenwood, at Item Southeast on Kateway, came on day two of a swing through South Carolina touting changes he wants to see from the General Assembly in the state budget. He has the chance to veto what he thinks is bad spending, and legislators will come back to Columbia after Tuesday’s primary elections to consider veto overrides.
Sanford faces a primary challenge from Prosperity physician Dr. Oscar Lovelace on Tuesday, and will face a Democratic challenger in November’s general election.
The Senate Democratic Caucus issued a statement attributed to state Sen. John Drummond, D-Greenwood, about what the caucus is calling “(Sanford’s) whine and blame tour through South Carolina.”
“I have had the privilege to serve with eight governors and it pains me to see the gridlock this current governor has created. It’s a shame that Sanford’s four years will be remembered for his needless publicity stunts like this current tour,” Drummond said.
“Gov. Carroll Campbell was one the most successful governors this state has had in modern history. He was able to work effectively with a senate and house controlled by opposing political parties. Now we have a Republican governor and Republican-controlled General Assembly, and Mark Sanford can’t get anything done. Sanford is not a leader.”
While Sanford said he will not campaign directly in Greenwood’s House District 13 race, he said he favors the approach of challenger Alan Boatwright over incumbent Gene Pinson when it comes to state spending.
“We need reinforcements in Columbia,” Sanford said. “People who will not just talk about conservative values but those who reflect them in their votes.”
“As a small businessman,” Boatwright said, “we’ve had hard times. We need less government in our lives, as most people do.”
Sanford said the federal government is being warned by its comptroller that a serious fiscal problem is on the horizon in funding entitlements. “At a lesser level,” the governor said, “we have a similar problem in Columbia.”
Sanford said he promised legislators that if they did not pass a budget in a timely manner and deal with his vetoes before the primary, he would take his case for fiscal restraint “to the people.” Since the lawmakers did not heed his advice, Sanford said he is traveling the state to make good on his promise.
“They said it was the ultimate trump card, to not be able to deal with the vetoes until after the election. But it’s not a trump card on me; it’s a trump card on the taxpayers,” Sanford said. “I said I’ll take the budget to the voters. South Carolina is a small place. I want to start conversations in all corners of South Carolina — 13 percent growth in state government is a lot faster than your pocketbooks and wallets.”

Wham! Post 20 topples Union

Brent Wham’s big night helps Greenwood

June 8, 2006

By RON COX
Special to The Index-Journal

If coach Billy Dean Minor’s constant reminders weren’t enough, the Greenwood American Legion Post 20 baseball team realized Wednesday that not every game would come easy.
Two days after a 15-run blowout victory, Post 20 scratched out an 11-6 come-from-behind win over Union Post 22 in a non-league game at Legion Field.
“I know everybody gets tired of hearing it, but we just have to come ready to play every night. If we come out to play every night, we’ll be fine,” Minor said. “They just kind of said, ‘OK, we have to do what we need to do to win this ballgame.’ And that’s what they did.
“We go back into league play tomorrow, and we just have to be ready to play.”
Post 20 (2-0) will take on Belton at 7:30 tonight at Westside High School before returning to Legion Field for a Friday night matchup with Greenville.
Union scored five unanswered runs in the third and fourth innings to give starter Chesney Simmons a 6-3 lead. Simmons went on a roll pitching with the lead, retiring seven of nine batters from the second to the fourth.
Then, the fifth inning came.
An infield error, one of five for Union, and two singles brought Post 20 one run closer. Then GHS standout Kyle Behrendt roped a double into left-center to bring in Cruse Tollison and Brandon Miller for the tying run.
Behrendt put Post 20 ahead 7-6 when he crossed the plate on Nick Milford’s sacrifice bunt.
Greenwood padded its lead in the eighth behind a perfectly executed suicide squeeze.
Milford, who led off the inning with a triple, was halfway headed for home as Union reliever Ryan Harbin was set to deliver a 2-0 pitch to Brent Wham. The Post 20 center fielder pushed a flawless bunt by Harbin.
Milford scored easily. Hill, running all the way, made a turn for home as Union third baseman Tyler Adams threw to first in an unsuccessful attempt to get Wham out, and beat out the throw home.
Meanwhile, Wham, with no one covering second or third, made his way around the diamond to third base without a throw.
“That’s the little things that win ballgames,” Minor said. “We’ve ran the bases well all season. That was just a heads-up play. It was a 7-6 game then and that’s the little things we’re going to have to do to win games.”
Wham scored on Josh Lovvorn’s double to left. Lovvorn made it an 11-6 game when he came in on Behrendt’s single.
Casey Pippin came in relief of starter Justin Lawson and reliever Michael Benjamin and pitched a scoreless fifth inning for the win. His Greenwood High School teammate, Matt Titus, pitched a perfect eighth and ninth for the save.
While Union’s five errors did cause some damage in the loss, the 15 runners that were left stranded, including 11 in scoring position, might have been more of a detriment.
Like the team did on opening night, Post 20 hit the scoreboard in the first, getting the first two batters to come around and score.
Union cut into the deficit with a run in the second, but Post 20 got that run back in the bottom half of the inning when Wham singled home Michael Benjamin to make it 3-1.
However, Union made it a new game by posting three in the third, including a monster homer from Buck Mosteller, who led off the inning with a rocket that went past the 400-foot sign in straightway center field.
Union took the lead in the fourth with three runs off Michael Benjamin, getting the go-ahead score when Cameron Willis singled home Brandon Garrett.

Statewide candidates give more time to bigger areas

June 8, 2006

Political candidates have been beating the voters’ bushes all over South Carolina this year, what with the primaries coming up next Tuesday. A funny thing seems to be happening in and around Greenwood, though. It seems it’s been only local candidates who have been routinely active.
The candidates for statewide office have crisscrossed the state in their efforts to win votes. That includes incumbents and challengers in races for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of education, agriculture commissioner, and treasurer. Most of them have given this area little personal attention, especially if actively campaigning hereabouts is any indication. Some have visited, of course, but not too often or too long.
Maybe it’s because they’re making what they believe is the best use of campaign funds they have available. Maybe it’s time. Who knows? One thing’s for sure. Most of them are spending considerable time mining the voters in larger metropolitan areas ..... Greenville/Spartanburg, Columbia, Charleston and Grand Strand areas.
Whatever the reason, though, whether valid or not, less populated areas of the Palmetto State have not particularly been in the regular rotation for some. Come to think of it, though, maybe that’s a blessing in disguise in this era of never-ending politicking.

Roddie Joe Moon

NEWBERRY — Services for Roddie Joe Moon are 2 p.m. Friday at Saint Mary A.M.E. Church. Viewing is 1-2 p.m. Friday at the church.
Wilson Funeral Home is in charge.

Ulysess Pearson Sr.

Ulysess Pearson Sr., 72, husband of Sylvia E. Pearson, died Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at the Medical College of Georgia.
Born in Coronaca, he was a son of Cora Jane Pearson. He was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Coronaca, a church deacon and a member of the All Male Chorus. He was employed by Laurin Young Builders.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Willie Covington of Atlanta, Ulysess Pearson Jr. and Celester Pearson Sr., both of Greenwood; a brother, John Allen Pearson of Waterloo; a sister, Jesse Mae Foster of Greenwood; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 127 Auld Road.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

GeDelle Young

GREENWOOD — GeDelle Brabham Young, 92, of Wesley Commons, widow of Martin D. Young died Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at the Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born October 31, 1913 in Columbia, SC, she was a daughter of the late Vernon and Margaret Cope Brabham. After graduating from Georgia State Woman’s College in Valdosta, GA, Mrs. Young received her Master’s Degree in Library Science from Emory University. A job as children’s librarian at Richland County Public Library brought her back to Columbia, where she also worked as a librarian at the State Hospital, Columbia High School and University High School. This amazing woman was a humanist, President of the Columbia League of Women Voters, an early civil rights advocate, delegate to two Democratic National Conventions, a master bridge player, avid gardener, and world traveler. Mrs. Young had many friends in many places, including Columbia, SC where she lived for 25 years, Bethesda, MD, The Republic of Panama and Gainesville, FL where she lived for 27 years. The last 5 years of her life were spent at Wesley Commons in Greenwood.
Survivors include her son, Martin Young and wife Lynn of Houston, TX; daughter, Margaret Y. Anderson and husband Jim of Ninety Six: 4 grandchildren, Elizabeth Young Abell and husband Matt of Denver and Houston, Perrin Anderson and wife Amy of Ninety Six, Jennings Anderson of Columbia, and Andrew Young of Houston, TX; 1 great grandchild, Sophia Anderson of Ninety Six; and brother Vernon Brabham, Jr. of Jasper, GA.
Memorial services will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 AM from the Wesley Commons Chapel with Reverend Sandra King officiating. Interment will be in Moultrie, GA.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Margaret Anderson, 2020 Ninety Six Highway, Ninety Six, SC.
Those desiring may make memorials to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 in memory of Mrs. Young.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Young family.
PAID OBITUARY