A bright future for Greenwood

New Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce CEO outlines
her goals for the community organization

March 27, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

The future looks promising for Greenwood.
That is the opinion of Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Angelle LaBorde, who in January took the reins as leader of the organization from Len Bornemann, who retired after nine years of service.
After only a few months as the leader of the Chamber, LaBorde said she is excited about the things to come for businesses — and residents — in the area.
“During my interview (for the position of Chamber president), I was very impressed at what a unique and vibrant business environment Greenwood has,” said LaBorde, who came to Greenwood after serving as president and CEO of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce in Metairie, La.
LaBorde said cooperation between the city and county’s service and business organizations, such as the Chamber, Partnership Alliance and Self Family Foundation, is something that proves very valuable in building a strong economic community.
“It seems that everybody is heading in the same direction. Everybody seems to be working toward the same goals,” she said.
LaBorde said the Chamber is looking to begin a strategic planning process over the summer to review the organization’s mission, vision and goals. She said officials want to ensure that those visions and goals are in alignment with the objectives of other “stake holder” organizations in Greenwood.
Expansion of the Chamber’s programs is another objective for the organization, and LaBorde said new business luncheons and mixers and before-hours programs were a possibility.
“Networking activities tend to be one of the top three things business owners say they want,” she said, adding that the mixers and luncheons attract current business owners and people who might be thinking of starting a business. “They allow the business community the opportunity to meet with others and to communicate.”
Events such as the Festival of Flowers, Festival of Discovery, Wellness Celebration and Small Business Week are ongoing programs that breathe life back into the community, she said.
“It helps market the community, which helps businesses here to survive and grow,” she said, adding that the tourism spurred by the events is beneficial to the entire county. “Hopefully, (the events) will attract new residents, companies and businesses.”
As a newcomer to the area, LaBorde said one personal objective she has taken on is to set appointments with business, community and government leaders to learn more about their organizations.
“I want to understand their issues because that will help me be more effective in my role,” she said.
Because education is an important part of the Chamber’s objectives, LaBorde said she was delighted to have Greenwood School District 50 ask the Chamber to host a business and legislative forum to talk about the replacement of retiring Superintendent Bill Steed.
“Obviously, businesses are very interested in the product the schools produce,” she said. “This gives the Chamber, as well as the community at large, a chance to talk about the skills needed (for the superintendent’s position).”
She said events such as the forum will help keep the Chamber’s “pulse on what is going on out there” and keep the organization an integral part of the community.
LaBorde said two areas that are causing concern for business owners are the shortage of skilled workers and the rising unemployment rate. But, she added, the cooperation between the Chamber and the Partnership Alliance, with programs such as the Greenwood Partnership Initiative, has helped make some headway in reducing the dropout rate and getting workers trained for jobs.
“The Chamber plays a role in the unemployment rate because if we help to grow our businesses, that creates jobs. If our businesses are successful, they need more employees and they can hire,” she said. “But I don’t think (Greenwood) has too many obstacles — I think we have some good opportunities ... I’m excited about Greenwood. I think it is a top-notch community and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Though it is not an official Chamber goal yet, LaBorde said she eventually would like to see the Chamber receive accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which would measure the Greenwood Chamber against organizations of similar size. “It helps document that we have the appropriate services in place for the community ... It sends a message to the community that we have a strong, viable chamber.”

Marshall ‘Sarge’ Calhoun

Services for Marshall “Sarge” Calhoun are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., conducted by the Rev. Earnest Cannon, assisted by Anthony Boozer. Burial is in John Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Abbeville County.
Visitation is Tuesday evening at the home, 504 Dukes Ave.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Katie Mae Bowman Covington

Katie Mae Bowman Covington, 82, of 111 Palmetto Court, widow of Johnny J.M. Covington, died Sunday, March 26, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Edgefield County, she was a daughter of the late Henry Bowman and Sadie Ryans Gilliam Bowman Padgett. She retired from food service at Monsanto/Solutia. She was a former member of Springfield Baptist Church in Edgefield and a current member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church in Greenwood where she served on the Usher Board and the church choir. She was a member of the Women’s Aide Society No. 55.
Survivors include two sons, James Cowan of Greenwood and Willie Covington of Rockledge, Fla.; six daughters, Diane Brown, Katie Mae Parks, Polly Brown, Brenda Wright, Hazel Hackett, all of Greenwood and Mrs. Thomas (Elaine) Mansel of Rockledge, Fla.; a brother, William Gilliam of Edgefield; eight sisters, Mrs. John (Janie) Sullivan of Ninety, Essie Barnes of Edgefield, Gussie Mays of Aiken, Lillie Williams of Greenwood, Mrs. Robert (Lucille) Susewell of N.Y., Hattie Weaver of Hodges, Mrs. Leonard (Martha) Jackson of Charlotte and Mrs. Johnny (Josephine) Gallan of Md.; 25 grandchildren, five reared in the home, Johnny Frank Covington Jr., Tuneaka Cowan, Lashonda Hackett, Victor Thomas and Hali Hackett; 24 great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Hazel Hackett, 219 A Coleman Terrace.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Ronnie Dixon

Ronald Thomas “Ronnie” Dixon, 53, of 178 Lucille Drive, husband of Mary Turner Dixon, died Saturday, March 25, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Joe Thomas Dixon and the late Blanche Adams Dixon. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School, Piedmont Tech and was formerly employed by Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works. He retired from Leath Correctional Center and was employed by Rainbow Neon Sign Co. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Jennifer Dixon Booth of Abbeville and Lesley Dixon Creswell of Sneads Ferry, N.C.; a sister, Gail D. Sartin of Greenwood; and three grandchildren.
Graveside services are 1 p.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. David Cobb.
Pallbearers are Mike Cain, Gene Clary, Toby Lee, Johnny Lewis, Jim Chandler and Wilbur Dixon.
Visitation is 11-12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of his father, 401 Dukes Ave.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Rosemary Nivens

GREENWOOD — Rosemary M. “Nanny” Nivens, 77, went home to be with her Lord March 26, 2006. She had been a resident of the Hospice Home in Greenwood since March 20.
Born September 6, 1928 in Florence, she lived most of her life in Columbia where she worked for Richland School District 1, and became an avid Gamecock fan and bridge player. She has made her home in Greenwood since 2002 where she was a member of North Side Baptist Church and active in their senior adult ministry. She was a member of their Agape/MaryMartha Sunday School class, as well as a facilitator for their Grief Share Ministry.
Rosemary was pre-deceased by her husband, William W. “Bill” Nivens Sr. in December 2001. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Gina and Randy Wagoner of Columbia, a son and daughter-in-law, Woody and Anna Nivens of Greenwood, and three grandchildren; Amanda Wagoner, Andrew Wagoner and Bryce Nivens. She is also survived by a sister, Carolyn Martin of Columbus, Mississippi.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28 in the Family Life Center at North Side Baptist Church of Greenwood. The family will receive friends at the church after the memorial service. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 Wednesday, March 29 at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the Kenya Mission Trip by North Side Baptist Church, 409 W. Northside Drive, Greenwood, SC, 29649, or Hospice House of Greenwood, 408 W. Alexander Drive, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Her greatest joys in her life were loving her Lord, being a faithful wife, and a devoted mother and “Nanny”.

Lois Prince

DONALDS — Lois Jane Haynes Prince, 94, of 5500 Highway 184 E., widow of Ernest (Brown) Prince, died Sunday, March 26, 2006 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late George and Rosa Lee Flowers Haynes. She was a member of Due West Baptist Church and was retired from Riegel Textiles.
Survivors include a son, Rayford Price of Abbeville; a daughter, Hazel Martin of Donalds; two sisters, Helen McGaha of Donalds and Agnes Ballard of Honea Path; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Services are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Due West Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Bob Philyaw and Darren Hook. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in Donalds Cemetery.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Pruitt Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her daughter, 5518 Highway 184 E.
Memorials may be made to Due West Baptist Church, 218 South Main St., Due West, S.C. 29639.
Pruitt Funeral Home, Honea Path, is in charge.

Robin Bass Spangler

BRYAN, OHIO — Robin Bass Spangler, age 45, of Bryan passed away at her residence early Saturday morning, March 25, 2006. Robin was an educator at Edon High School for 20 years. She was a loyal Bomber fan, received several awards including the Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, the Franklin B. Walter Honored Teacher award and was named to Who’s Who of American Teachers, was the National Honor Society Advisor, Cinderella Project Faculty Advisor, the Junior Class Advisor including Prom and Homecoming, and assisted in various school play productions.
She was a member of the Bryan First Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and belonged to the Claire Newcomer Club and the Bryan Civic League.
Born August 14, 1960 in Bethune, South Carolina, she was the daughter of Ernest T. and Irene J. (Jones) Bass. She graduated from Bethune High School in 1978 and Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina in 1982. On June 11, 1983, she married Michael Spangler and he survives in Bryan.
Robin is also survived by her children Kathryn, Kennedy and Greyson Spangler all of Bryan, sisters Carol and husband Rodney Sutton of Columbia, S.C, Diane and husband Andrew Walker of Lancaster, S.C., Cathy and husband Charles Sayer of Greenwood, S.C. and her mother Irene J. Bass of Bethune, S.C. Her father preceded her in death.
Funeral services for Robin B. Spangler will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 11:00am in the First Presbyterian Church of Bryan with Rev. Rob Marrow officiating. Burial will follow in Brown Cemetery near Bryan. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 27, 2006 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00pm at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burr Funeral Home & Crematory of Bryan.
Gifts in loving memory of Robin B. Spangler may be given to the First Presbyterian Church Garden Memorial Fund or and agency of the donor’s choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family and the on-line guest book may be signed at www.burrfh.com
PAID OBITUARY

Jimmie Doyle Stewart

Jimmie Doyle Stewart, 59, of Lyman, died Sunday, March 26, 2006.
Mr. Stewart was the husband of Tracey McKinney-Stewart and the son of Curtis Parsons and Opal Stewart. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School and Lander University where he earned a B.S. in Chemistry. He was an air traffic controller for the FAA for over 30 years. Mr. Stewart was a Col. and pilot in the Commemorative Air Force; a member of B-24/ B-29 Squadron and Arizona Wing; a volunteer for Collings Foundation flying the B24 and B17; and an AOPA member. He was a flight instructor for many years and authored books on Radio Propagation. WA4MVI. Mr. Stewart was involved in his community by arranging air shows across the country. He attended Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses — North Congregation, Greenville.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Stewart is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Stewart of Murfreesboro, TN; a son, Sgt. Jeffrey Curtis, stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC; and a sister, Lonita Ferqueron and her husband Terry of Greenwood, SC. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Marie Jones Stewart.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at the chapel of Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown. Visitation will be held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2006 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oakbrook Memorial Park at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Visitation immediately following the service in the Family Center at Oakbrook.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown.
PAID OBITUARY

HOF reaches next phase

March 27, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

With the deadline for submissions passing earlier this month, the selection of the third class of the Greenwood Athletics Hall of Fame moves on to the next phase.
Things now turn to the hall’s 10-member nominating committee, which meets April 5 to narrow down the numerous submissions down to about 10.
“We’ve got a little over 50 nominations, and once somebody’s nominated they stay in that group,” Greenwood Athletic Director Shell Dula said.
“I think it’s going to be tough. Really, I think it’s going to be tougher and tougher each year,” Dula said. “Because the first year, especially in some cases, were definites. They had to go in. Then you even had some of those in the second year.
“I think there’s still a lot of great athletes to pick from. But it’s going to get tougher and tougher each year.” While the task of narrowing down the vast number of prospective hall-of-famers is daunting, the nominating committee, which is made up of members of the Greenwood community, has gotten the hang of it heading into the third go-around.
Nominating committee Chairman David Bell said the group, which also consists of Mayor Floyd Nicholson, Earl Purkeson, The Rev. Willie Harrison, Stan McManus, Jim Martin, Sheila Rhodes, Jan Chandler, Julius Pinson and Jobie Adams, could have a list ready for the selection committee as early as the April 5 meeting.
“The first year, we met two or three times, but last year, we met only once,” Bell said. “A lot of the nominations we are familiar with. We kind of know who’s still in line.
“I think there will be less differentiation than in the past. As more people come up, some obvious choices will emerge and after a second or third look back at the previous nominees, should allow for some more obvious choices again.” The nominating committee studies the list of players nominated by fellow members and people in the Greenwood area and narrows a list of viable candidates that will have to be approved by a five-member selection committee.
The selection committee is: Greenwood District 50 Superintendent William Steed, Principal Beth Taylor, Dula, Booster Club President Robbie Templeton and Bell.
Any former student-athlete who has been out of school for longer than 10 years is under consideration for the Hall. Last year saw eight inductees from six different decades, getting at least one former Greenwood or Brewer high school graduate from the 1950s through to the ’90s.
The 2006 class might see one or more inductees from the 1990s as this is the first year for several members of the Lady Eagles’ back-to-back state title teams of 1994-95 and ’95-96.
“This is the 10th year of the first girls basketball state championship when they won back-to-back state titles under Sheila Rhodes,” Dula said. “So, we have three or four of those girls nominated. That was a really outstanding group and we’re really excited to have some of those kids being nominated.
“I think we’ve got two excellent classes in and I think we’ve got a lot more excellent athletes to pick from. Greenwood has such a rich tradition as far as athletics are concerned. We’re going to have excellent athletes inducted for years to come.”

Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ronc@indexjournal.com

Sales tax is always first considered for increases

March 27, 2006

Every time taxes are mentioned in South Carolina, at least every time anyone talks about tax reform. the first thing that’s proposed is an increase in the sales tax to “offset” the loss in revenue that would occur under the “reform.” Likewise, when some public official wants to build something, improve something or make repairs to some or all of the infrastructure, what’s proposed to raise the necessary money?
If you said increase the sales tax, go to the head of the class.
There’s no question there’s a hodgepodge of a tax structure that taxes (no pun intended) everybody’s imagination. There’s no question, either, that a little tax simplification is long overdue.

EVERYTHING, THOUGH, cannot depend on increases in the sales tax. Sooner or later it’ll get to the point where somebody will be asking for reform of the sales tax situation.
Why is it seemingly so easy, when the subject comes up, for anyone and everyone to immediately propose increasing the sales tax?A half-cent increase here and another one-cent increase there, and, before we realize it, we could be paying 10 cents, 15 cents 25 cents or more on the dollar. And remember. Once the sales tax is increased, it’s more than likely to be permanent.
No? Remember the penny increase in the sales tax devoted to solving all of South Carolina’s education problems? It’s still there, and so are problems..... even after the “Education Lottery” also was supposed to be the answer.
Consider all of the increase-the-sales-tax proposals going around these days. The sales tax can be abused as easily and as much as any other tax - maybe more.

A TAX IS A TAX IS A TAX. Tax reform should include looking at the “big picture.” But, it’s such a potpourri of taxes at all levels of government, could comprehensive reform ever be a genuine consideration? Is there anyone capable of understanding it all? As a matter of fact, is there anyone who could compile a list of every tax that’s levied on all Americans, from Washington, to the states to every community in the country?
The sales tax can be the answer to a lot of questions. It can, if it’s used wisely. Greenwood County, for instance, is looking at a one-cent local option hike in the sales tax to pay for needed projects. It plans to have it end automatically when the projects - lake and library - are paid for.
The sales tax, however, also can get out of hand. That’s something that has to be considered every time a knee-jerk proposal says just add another penny.