Uptown cafe drinking gets first OK
following impassioned hearing

May 16, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

After nearly two hours and speeches by 20 residents before Greenwood City Council on Monday, the standing-room-only courtroom exploded with applause and whistles as Uptown Greenwood moved one step closer to allowing its restaurants to serve beer and wine to seated patrons outdoors in a cafe setting.
Council voted 5-2 in favor of the first of two readings of the ordinance amendment after a heated debate regarding the evils of alcoholism verses the economic boost the change could create. Council agreed, at the recommendation of Councilwoman Niki Hutto, to give the change a trial period for at least six months from July 1 to Dec. 31.
After the applause ended, Curt Eidson, minister of Emerald Baptist Church, reminded those celebrating that it was only the first reading.
“Hold your applause till then,” Eidson said loudly to the crowd.
Eidson was one of the first to speak in opposition to the ordinance. Eidson, who sent council a petition signed by 300 people, told council that it would only be fair to create a referendum for all residents of the county to vote on since all will be affected.
“If everyone is given an opportunity to speak, then let it be said we will accept what the majority decides,” Eidson said.
Councilman Johnny Williams agreed, and, before voting against the ordinance, added that the city has been fighting a drinking and drug problem too long to allow drinking on public sidewalks.
Phillip McMinn, pastor at South Main Street Baptist Church, opposed the ordinance, saying it is the city’s job to protect its residents.
“It is their personal right, but how do you tell that to their children?” McMinn asked council. “I think government has the responsibility to protect those who are innocent.”
Margie Culbertson, of Greenwood, agreed with speakers who said they don’t want to see the city become “saturated” with alcohol.
“I didn’t choose to live in Greenville. I chose to live in Greenwood because of the hometown feel,” Culbertson said. “If we wanted to live in a city like Greenville, we’d move there.”
Nearly twice the number of residents supporting the ordinance approached the microphone, telling council the debate should not be about morals, but about the economic boost the ordinance could give Uptown.
Bill Wilson, owner of Thayer’s, said he has been in business on the square for 39 years, seeing many of its ups and downs. He said more people would be attracted to Uptown restaurants if they see others eating outside and having a good time.
“Serving wine or beer on the sidewalk is no different than serving at a table beside the window,” he said. “... If you think someone will not live in Greenwood because they see someone drinking alcohol on the sidewalk, then I would expect to disagree.”
Jeff Fowler, who represented the Partnership Alliance, said he thinks the decision should be left to the people of Greenwood, by judging where they put their dollars. He said if people decide not to go to a restaurant because of the alcohol served, then the owners can decide not to serve it anymore. Fowler pointed to the importance of restaurants as being one of the keys to revitalizing any successful city.
“The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expect different results,” he told council.
Chip Turner, owner of H.H. Turner Jewelers, said that giving restaurants on the square the opportunity to serve beer and wine offers them the same chance for success they could have elsewhere in the city. “My reason for supporting is because it’s simply the fair thing to do,” Turner said.
Tony Wideman, owner of T.W. Boons, said he hears customers saying they want to eat outside on a daily basis.
“It’s not the hooligans. It’s a gentleman and his wife,” he said. “I would just appreciate it if you would consider it.”
Frank Caughman, co-owner of Frankglens, said the ordinance would help his business.
“We have lots of customers — some do drink, some don’t — but we’ve never had a problem as far as alcohol goes,” said Caughman, adding that his father was killed by a drunk driver when he was 6 and he never tolerates excessive drinking.
Councilwoman Linda Edwards made her stance against the ordinance very clear before the voting, saying several of her questions regarding the monitoring of the drinking were never answered.
“I don’t have anything against anyone,” she said. “You drink, that’s your business. But there’s questions I have asked that have not been answered ... this is where I stood in 2004 and this is where I stand tonight.”
HOW THEY VOTED
The issue before the Greenwood City Council follows:
The approval of first reading of an ordinance to allow outdoor cafes within Greater Greenwood Square to serve beer and wine to seated patrons on city sidewalks and public property.
Voting tally
Betty Boles Yes
Linda Edwards No
Niki Hutto Yes
Floyd Nicholson Yes
Herbert Vaughn Yes
Johnny Williams No
Barbara Turnburke Yes
Key: Yes (voted for measure); No (voted against measure); X (was absent for vote); A (abstained from vote).

Gwendolyn Michelle Abrams

Services for Gwendolyn Michelle Abrams, of 378 Old Greenwood Highway, are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Grace Community Church, with Elder Patricia Brown officiating and the Rev. C. Martin Lester Jr. presiding.
Assisting are the Revs. Curtis Carter, Rod Schultz, Dexter Cason, Anthony Boozer and Tony Foster. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Jeff Coleman, Ronald Brown Jr., Rodney Prince, Anthony Christopher, Darrell Brown and Jason Brown.
Flower bearers are cousins and friends of the family.
Honorary escorts are Women’s Unity Club members and co-workers of Patrick B. Harris.
Viewing is private.
Visitation is this evening at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Brenda Louise Banks

MOUNT CARMEL — Services for Brenda Louise Banks are 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul AME Church, conducted by the Rev. James Bates Jr. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home, 144 Cathy Heights.
Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.

Paul Blakely

Paul A. Blakely of Wesley Commons died Friday, May 12, 2006.
Born in Sharon Hill, PA, he was the son of Paul Achre Blakely and Grace Cox O’Connor. He attended York High School in Elmhurst, IL and graduated from Purdue University where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
While at Purdue he was a member of several Engineering Honoraries and also President of the Purdue Student Union. He served in the U.S. army during World War II as a Liaison pilot with the Field Artillery. He lived in Wheaton, IL with his family for 35 years where he was a member of the Gary Memorial Methodist Church. He retired as Sales Manager of Mayfair Molded Plastics Company in Schiller Park, IL.
He is survived by his wife, Jane and sons Craig and Ross of College Station, TX and Todd of Littleton, CO, two daughers-in-law and five grandchildren, Lauren, Allison, Gwen, Dan and Hunter.
Services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday in Asbury Hall at Wesley Commons.
Memorials may be made to: HospiceCare of the Piedmont at 408 Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or the Wesley Commons Sarah & Miller Haugh Wellness Foundation Fund, Wesley Commons, 1110 Marshall Rd.
Greenwood, SC 29646.
Cremation Society of South Carolina, Greenville.
PAID OBITUARY

Rita Faye Bonds

CALHOUN FALLS, SC — Rita Faye Bonds, 49, of 215 Burton Drive, Calhoun Falls, died May 15 at her residence.
Born in Abbeville, Ms. Bonds was the daughter of William Marion Bonds and Helen Lee Potts Bonds. In addition to her parents, she is survived by special friend Alan Carey; son Jimmy “John John” Smith Jr. and 5 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 17 at 3:00 PM in the Chapel of Calhoun Falls Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Latimer Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Calhoun Falls Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA, 23058 or Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, 29646. The family may be contacted at the residence.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Jim Culbertson

WARE SHOALS — James Ferguson “Jim” Culbertson Jr., 70, of 6 Davis St., husband of Elizabeth Kay Culbertson, died Sunday, May 14, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late James F. Culbertson Sr. and F’lyce Davenport Culbertson Bobo. He was of the Baptist faith and a member of Fore Club Seniors Golf Group. He was active with Greenwood Community Theatre and the Electric City Playhouse, Anderson, and occasionally wrote for The Index-Journal Op-Ed page.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, David Culbertson and Tony Culbertson, both of Ware Shoals; two daughters, Vickie Gray of Moore and Connie Culbertson of Greenwood; a sister, Lyndall Tolly of Belton; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daventon Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Parker-White Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Greenwood Community Theatre, 110 N. Main St., Greenwood, SC 29646; Electric City Playhouse, 515 N. Murray Ave., Anderson, SC 29625; or a charity of choice.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Ernest Nathaniel Dye

Services for Ernest Nathaniel Dye, of 108 Addison Ave., are at noon Wednesday at Bethlehem Church of God Holiness, McCormick, conducted by Bishop James C. Taylor, assisted by the Rev. Willie Cannady. The body will be placed in the church at 11. Burial with military rites is in Overbrook Cemetery, McCormick.
Pallbearers are Leon Ebo, Branthony Martin, Willie Cunningham, Ronnie Cannady, James Wiley Dye, Nathan Kelly and Marcus Cannady.
Flower bearers are Sarah Cannady, Elizabeth Cannady, Shanelle Cannady, Tiffany Martin, Keisha Morgan, Sharon Lee Phonecia McBride.
Honorary escorts are church officers.
Visitation is this evening at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Latrinda L. Griffin

HODGES — Latrinda Lynn Griffin, 34, of 112 Athens Court, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
Born in Laurens County, she was a member of Freedom World Outreach Ministries, a choir member and a food pantry volunteer.
Survivors include two daughters, Shonqulla D. Hodges and Parieisha Donyae’ Siegler, both of the home; a son, Darius Naquan Chappelle of the home; her parents, The Rev. Johnny and Linda Walker Henderson; two brothers, Neal Griffin of Greenville and Johnny Latae Henderson of San Diego; two sisters, Laura A. Rapley of Greenwood and Chaka Henderson Smith of Ware Shoals.
She was predeceased by her father, Robert Jr. Griffin.
Services are 3 p.m. Wednesday at Dunn Creek Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Delores Henderson and James F. Davis III. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Viewing begins at noon today at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service.
No wake is planned.
The family is at the home of her parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Johnny Henderson, 16 Trey Lane, Ware Shoals. Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, is in charge.

Jimmy Hastings

NINETY SIX — Jimmy Randall Hastings, 34, of 3403 Golf Course Road, husband of Catherine “Cathy” Timok Hastings, died Sunday, May 14, 2006 from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Eugene Ransom and Irene Goodman Hastings. He was formerly employed by Cullum Electric and was a member of Sandridge Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Trenton Ryan Hastings, Hunter Steven Hastings and Jacob Mitchell Hastings, all of the home; two stepdaughters, Allison Virginia Emmons and Aryel Victoria Emmons, both of the home; two sisters, Jean Shipes of Goldsboro, N.C., and Delores Kernells of Greenwood; a brother, Billy R. Hastings of Bradley; three half sisters, Mary Sue Wallis and Betty Hastings Minor, both of Greenwood and Brenda Senterfiet of Batesburg; two half brothers, Col. Ernest Gary Botts Jr. of England and Acey Thomas Botts of Oklahoma.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Sandridge Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Marty Dorn.
Pallbearers are Preston Thompson, Kyle Abercrombie, Travis Shipes, Tyrone Schultz, Kenny Sims, Jeffery Whitfield, Troy Echols, Dana Suites and Danny Lee.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

George O. ‘Boach’ Lewis

CALHOUN FALLS — George O. “Boach” Lewis, 68, of 801 Butler Ave., husband of Ophelia Lewis, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at his home.
Born in Calhoun Falls, he was a son of the late Booker T. and Mary Sue Carter Lewis. He retired from West Point Stevens, Calhoun Falls and was a member of Springfield Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Gail Lewis of the home; two sons, Steve McDuffie of Calhoun Falls and George Lewis Jr. of New Jersey; a sister, Grace Clayborne of New Jersey; four grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield Baptist Church, Calhoun Falls, conducted by the Rev. Johnny Waller. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home.
Abbeville & White Mortuary Inc. is in charge.

Oscar Lee Settles

Oscar Lee Settles, 71, of 856 Bowie St., husband of Jessie Mae Settles, died Monday, May 15, 2006 at Richard Campbell Veterans Home, Anderson.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late Charlie and Emily Settles. He was a cement finisher, formerly working with Daniel Construction and Patterson Concrete. He had served in the Army and was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a brother, Charles Settles Jr. of Greenwood; three sisters, Carolyn Settles Hayes of Morristown, N.J., Bertha Taylor of Willingburg, N.J., and Emma Lee Williams of Greenwood.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net

Frances C. Strickland

ABBEVILLE, SC — Mrs. Frances Beatrice Coleman Strickland, 77, widow of the late Mr. Robert M. Strickland, died Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at her daughter’s home in Columbia, Maryland, after a brief period of declining health. A native of Abbeville, South Carolina, Mrs. Strickland was the daughter of Mrs. Melvina Coleman Colbert and the late Mr. William H. Colbert and the granddaughter of the late Ms. Elizabeth T. Coleman.
Mrs. Strickland received her primary and secondary education in the public schools of Abbeville County. She earned degrees from Friendship Junior College and Allen University, culminating in a master’s degree in education and supervision from South Carolina State University and continued beyond her graduate work at Clemson University.
Mrs. Strickland was a 39-year veteran educator and administrator in SC public schools. She began her teaching career in McCormick County at the Glovers Chapel School. When the McCormick school system merged, she moved to Willington, South Carolina, teaching 4th grade at Mims Elementary School #3. Later, she moved to Mims #1 where she was county supervisor for, what was then called, Special Education in McCormick. Eventually, she moved to Abbeville County, first as 4th grade teacher at Sharon Elementary School where she ultimately became principal. Mrs. Strickland’s last assignment prior to retirement was that of principal of the new Westwood Elementary.
A strong Christian believer and lifelong member of St. Peter A.M.E. Church, Mrs. Strickland served as church school secretary, teacher, and church treasurer. Additionally, she held roles as steward, stewardess, trustee, and secretary of the Women’s Missionary Society. Dedicated to ministering to the needs of those around her, Mrs. Strickland organized a special committee to address the unique concerns of her church and its congregation. On a broader scope, Mrs. Strickland represented St. Peter at the district, conference and Seventh Episcopal District levels as well as at the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church. A strong proponent of the value and necessity of a healthy, functioning lay organization, Mrs. Strickland also served as president and secretary/treasurer for the local St. Peter group.
A member of the Order of the Eastern Star, St. Mary Lodge #162 and the Women’s Home Aide Society, #81 Mrs. Strickland was as avidly engaged in civic activities, all of which were focused on the growth and development of Abbeville County and its citizens. She served on several boards and commissions of institutions and agencies, including Piedmont Technical College, the Mental Health Association, the American Heart Association, the Clemson Extension, and the Piedmont Agency on Aging.
Always caring, forward thinking, and determined to impact for the good the lives of those with whom she came in contact, Mrs. Strickland demonstrated that same nature even at her passing. Having been a patient at Duke University for over 15 years, she decided to donate her body to the Duke University Anatomical Gifts Program for research and education.
In addition to her mother, Melvina, Mrs. Strickland is survived by three daughters — Dr. Elizabeth Roberta Strickland Markham of Fayetteville, North Carolina; Frances Melvina Strickland of Racine, Wisconsin; Carol Juanita Strickland of Columbia, Maryland; grandchildren — Jacqueline Elizabeth Markham and Robert Louis Markham of Raleigh, North Carolina; sisters-in-law — Mrs. Thomasina Lee Strickland and Mrs. Sadie Strickland, and many other relatives and friends who remain to share in celebration of her life.
A life celebration will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter A.M.E. Church, Highway 823, Abbeville, SC. “The Girls” will receive friends on Saturday morning, between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Westwood Elementary School Library Fund at the following address: Attention Westwood Elemen-tary School, c/o Mrs. Lori Brewton, No. 124, Highway 28 By Pass, Abbeville, South Carolina 29620.
PAID OBITUARY

Jeffery Styron

NINETY SIX — Jeffery Todd Styron, 37, of 209 Brickyard Road, died Monday, May 15, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Spring football practice key for local teams

May 16, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Even though the high school spring sports season has just ended, preparations for the 2006 football season are well under way for schools from Greenwood and the Lakelands area.
Under SCHSL rules, teams are allowed 10 days of practice in the spring. Though there are limitations on practicing in full pads, teams are allowed to work out in helmets and shoulder pads.
For Greenwood and Emerald, the beginning of spring practice has represented a way of accomplishing similar goals while dealing with different circumstances.
Things have been business as usual at Greenwood, where coach Shell Dula prepares the Eagles for his 11th season at the school.
Emerald, on the other hand, has gone through spring drills without a head coach, as Mac Bryan resigned in April in order to take the head coaching position at Pikeville College.
New coach Mike Clowney was not hired until Monday.
Vikings assistants Brent Calvert and Zeke Goode have conducted practice.
“It hasn’t affected the kids one bit,” said Calvert of the team working out without a lead man. “The main thing they seem to have on their minds is defending that region championship.”
Dula said the workouts have been a good chance to introduce — or re-introduce — the basics of the game. “It’s certainly a great time to work on the fundamentals,” Dula said. “We’ve been very pleased with the way our young men have worked over the first few days this spring.
“The effort has certainly been excellent.”
The two crosstown rivals have one aspect in common this spring: they are both looking to replace outstanding quarterbacks.
Greenwood is searching for the successor to Armanti Edwards, a Shrine Bowl performer last season who has signed to play for Appalachian State University.
Meanwhile, Emerald will look for a new signal caller to replace Dan Wideman, a North-South All-Star game participant who has committed to play for East Carolina University.
According to Calvert, Evan Bledsoe, who will be a junior in the fall, and Zane Newton, who will be a sophomore, are battling for the starting job.
“You don’t just replace a Dan Wideman,” Calvert said.
“He did a tremendous job for us. At the same time, Evan and Zane are very coachable guys who really want to win. They are competitive, but at the same time they are supportive of each other.”
At Greenwood, Dula said senior-to-be Sam Chappell and Jay Spearman, who will be a junior in the fall, are each working out at quarterback.
“They are both talented young men,” Dula said. “We feel like either one of them could do a great job. They have both been in weight lifting classes and have gotten much stronger. Things have looked good there so far.”
Both schools have a solid number of athletes out for practice, with both Dula and Calvert pleased with the turnouts.
“We had 97 kids out the first day,” Calvert said.
“That’s rising ninth-graders to rising seniors. We’ll add a few more when we get a couple back from playing soccer and nagging injuries and that type of thing.”
Dula said he was especially pleased with the crop of Eagles who will be freshmen in the fall.
“We have approximately 60 rising ninth-graders practicing,” Dula said.
“That was an extremely encouraging number. We also have roughly 50 players working with the varsity.”
Both schools had successful seasons a year ago, with each making the state playoffs.

Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

No religious influences on state? Who says so?

May 16, 2006

Hardly a day goes by when someone somewhere in South Carolina isn’t debating separation of church and state. Usually it concerns complaints that there are too many instances of something to do with religion being condoned by somebody in government.
It’s hard to read the U. S. Constitution, though, and find anything that addresses separation of church and state. What does seem obvious, however, is that the freedom of religion granted in the First Amendment assures us that government cannot involve itself in the church and mandate what can and cannot be done. It assures us that government cannot establish a state church which it controls. It doesn’t say there can be no religious influence on government.
A current situation in China argues the point very well ..... Communist China, that is.

IN THAT AUTHORITARIAN society, where the government controls the Catholic Church, the people have no choice and no freedom of religion. That was seen recently when Chine - the state - recently installed a second bishop even though the Vatican objected and excommunicated both bishops.
That could drastically affect the possibility of diplomatic relations between them. It presents a clear picture of what happens when the church has no influence on the state yet the state totally controls the church.
No one church or denomination should control government, to be sure. But, does that mean that there can be no religious influences on government? That’s surely not what the Founding Fathers had in mind.