Dist. 50 lawsuit not for plan

Man suing school district might be in favor of bonds under different circumstances

November 13, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Henry Johnson, 68, has lived in Greenwood since he moved from Anderson in 1974.
He’s the former owner of the Rental Center and has had his five children attend schools in Greenwood School District 50. What might be the most surprising fact about Johnson is that, under the right circumstances, he would support District 50’s installment purchase bond plan.
Johnson, along with the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation, is suing the district, Superintendent Darrell Johnson and board of trustees chairwoman Dru James in a lawsuit filed Oct. 31 against District 50’s installment purchase bond plan.
Henry Johnson’s lawsuit accuses the district of violating the state constitution’s 8 percent debt limit, District 50’s own procurement policy and the Freedom of Information Act by having many secret meetings.
Procurement is the way the district is required to spend taxpayers’ money.
The district is attempting to leverage as much as $145 million over a 25-year period to pay for construction of three new elementary schools, and renovations and modifications to the rest of the schools in District 50. Bonds are typically sold by government agencies to the public and investors to pay for large projects.
The money gained from the bond sale is given to the issuing agency and paid back over an established amount of time.
Johnson said if the bond plan is necessary, then he would support it. He thinks the public would, too.
“The people who owed the money would have to agree to do it,” he said. “I have no problem doing what needs to be done, but it needs to be done legally.”
Johnson is not the first person to publicly show distrust for the bond issue or want to get more information about it.
Greenwood County Councilmen Dee Compton and Bob Jennings have respectively filed 29 FOIA requests and asked the district for a postponement of the bond issue. Compton said Friday he was tabling the FOIA requests now that he’s talking with District 50’s attorneys.
He and state Rep. Mike Pitts had discussed how the bond issue might be unconstitutional in the past. Henry Johnson said he is opposed to the bond issue, but not education in Greenwood. His five children — Lynn, Tom, Patty, Mikal and Robert — went to District 50 schools. Johnson said he thought the district needed to be sued. “No one had stepped forward,” he said.
It’s in the best interest of Greenwood County taxpayers to find out all they can about the bond issue before the county gets into something it might truly regret, he said.
Jim Carpenter, Johnson’s attorney, said his client is doing the right thing by suing the district. “He’s just a tax-paying citizen wanting the other government officials to follow the law,” Carpenter said. “I think he’s doing a noble deed.”
Johnson learned about the bond issue after reading stories in The Index-Journal. He also talked to some board of trustees members. Johnson said he also has talked to some in the public, but declined to mention who they were. He said he didn’t know if people would want to be identified. He doesn’t want to create ill will or problems for other people. He hasn’t heard any negative comments from people who support the bond plan.
Newly elected board member Dan Richardson is opposed to the bond plan and delivered the lawsuit to District 50. When asked if Richardson was one of the people he consulted about the bond issue, Johnson said he wouldn’t call him an acquaintance.
Johnson added he doesn’t agree with Richardson’s political views. His interest is in the effect the bond plan could have on property taxes in Greenwood.
If property taxes rise, then that can drive away prospective businesses. When Johnson questioned District 50 administration and board members, he found he couldn’t get the answers he needed.
One of his biggest concerns is it appears District 50 is trying to acquire money from the bond project without knowing what it needs to spend it on.
“From a business standpoint, it doesn’t seem very logical,” Johnson said.
He also thinks the district seems to be putting a lot of time and effort into facilities and technology and not enough into educating. District 50 is also moving too fast to get the bond issue done, he said.
There are a lot of doubts in a lot of minds, Johnson said, adding he hopes the lawsuit will clear things up.

Home Sweet Home

Habitat for Humanity helps Hodges resident feel joy of becoming homeowner

November 13, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

HODGES— Many citizens in the Lakelands area and across the country can attest to the satisfaction gained from home ownership.
The experience can be even more rewarding when a homeowner obtains the new residence with the help of numerous hard working and caring volunteers.
Such was the case Sunday in Hodges, where Nicole Callaham received the keys to her new home on Morgan Road. The keys came courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, which had a dedication ceremony in conjunction with Greenwood County at Callaham’s new home.
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that helps low-income families obtain homes all over the country. The homes are constructed or refurbished by teams of volunteers, with the homeowners-to-be also contributing “sweat equity” to the projects.
Greenwood County Habitat director David Hord was pleased with the way this particular project turned out.
“This is the 54th Habitat house we’ve done in Greenwood County in all,” Hord said. “And the dedication ceremony, that’s the highlight of this whole process. To see a first-time homeowner get keys to their own place, that’s what this is all about.”
Callaham said it was an emotional day for her.
“My prayers have been answered, very patiently,” said Callaham, who is an employee at Leath Correctional. “This process has taken about a year in all, and I’ve been blessed to meet many wonderful volunteers.”
Callaham, who has been living in an apartment complex in Greenwood, said she was introduced to the idea that she could own a Habitat home when she was volunteering with the organization last year. While working on another house, she decided to apply for the process herself.
Callaham’s 14-year-old daughter, L’Travia, was succinct in her analysis of Sunday’s dedication and the prospects in living in a refurbished brick house in the country.
“I’m just happy,” L’Travia said, with a broad smile.
This particular Habitat home was a first in that it is the initial joint venture between Habitat for Humanity and Greenwood County. Greenwood County council member Bob Jennings detailed how the cooperation came about.
“The county got the house in when there was a foreclosure and there were no bids on it,” Jennings said. “Then, we wanted the remodeling to be done by a local outfit, and we wanted a first-time homeowner. Habitat for a Humanity was a perfect fit.”
Sam O’Shields was responsible for overseeing the remodeling of the brick home, which was originally built in 1993. O’Shields said the first order of business was getting the landscaping in order, with the grass being, as O’Shields describes it, “waist high.”
The construction supervisor said there were a number of improvements done to the inside, including painting, new flooring including carpet and tile, new countertops, new appliances and more.
Callaham summed up her appreciation for the entire affair.
“God has brought some wonderful people into my life,” Callaham said. “We’re blessed.”

Gary family sees racing rewards

November 13, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Whether you call it luck or being in the right place at the right time, Greenwood native Joe Gary took advantage of a racing opportunity.
Gary won the IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries, one of the biggest bracket racing programs in the country at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway.
With the win, Gary became the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series World Champion in the Summit SuperSeries Box category. “I wasn’t even thinking about it at the time, but it feels nice,” Joe said. “The top eight bracket racers in the world were there, and in the first round I was against a guy who already had won one world championship. I knew if I got past him I’d be all right.”
Racing has been a family venture for years. But it’s not all about big names, such as the Pettys, Allisons or Earnhardts, but if you look around, you’ll find plenty of families working together at all levels of racing.
From the races at Ware Shoals to the ones at Rockingham, it’s all the same.
The same goes for the Garys, who have found a way to put together a solid car over the years that hasn’t necessarily won every race, but has given a son a chance to continue something his father and grandfather started when he was still in diapers.
The road to Victory Lane is quite interesting and began more than 20 years ago. That’s when Joe’s father, Joey Gary, decided to try out racing after going to the drag strip with a few friends and watching them race.
Joey Gary received additional help from his father, Ira Gary, who helped him purchase a 1968 Camaro in 1985.
“I started doing it part time probably in 1985 and I would say it was about 1993 when I started racing every weekend up at Ware Shoals,” Joey said. “My dad helped me get started along the way and between the two of us now, we’ve kept Joe racing. Two years ago I had to go spend some money on it and I had it all redone for him.”
With his father heading to the races every weekend, it was only right that Joe, who his father refers to as ‘Jo Jo,’ go along with him.
Joey started taking Joe and his older sister Lesley Westmoreland to the races when his son was around 5 and said he always told him when he got old enough to drive he would let him.
“I loved going to the track,” Joe said. “Basically I did what my dad does for me now. When he got off making a run, I was the one that cranked up the generator and plugged up the battery charger and helped take the hood off. I cleaned rims every time he made a run and just kept the car good and clean. That’s just what I liked to do.”
After spending years doing what some may consider grunt work, Joe finally received his first chance to get behind the wheel when family friend, Robert Ashley, gave him his first driving job.
After mixed results, Joey finally let his son take the wheel of his car.
“This year I let him drive something kind of fast so I let him drive my car,” Joey said. “For his first two years of racing he’s been outstanding.”
Outstanding is just the word to describe Joe’s performance this year after going 22-8, which qualified him for a lottery drawing in Norwalk, Ohio, along with thousands of other drag racers who qualified with winning percentages over .500.
“It just so happened that my name was drawn and I got to go to Rockingham,” Joe said. “I just took advantage of my opportunity to the fullest.”
The major event came with major prizes totaling nearly $100,000 including a $60,000 race car, trophy, diamond ring, trip to Aruba and cash.
“Winning this car and all this is going to open up a lot of doors for him, and maybe things I couldn’t do for him, somebody else may be able to step in and give him a hand,” Joey said. “It’s fun to race against people I’ve known all my life, but it feels great to see my son do a whole lot better than I ever did.
“I’ve been very lucky, because during my 27 years at Greenwood Mills they have always let me off to go racing or to take my son racing and I just can’t say enough about them.
Joey also couldn’t say enough about his son winning at Rockingham and it was easy to see just how proud he was of his son.
“For him to step up and do what he did, it was very emotional, and I’m very proud of him,” Joey said, the pride showing on his face.
Joe seems ready to build on his success and good fortune with a few more races lined up before heading to Greensboro, N.C., to pick up his new car at the IHRA banquet. Joe joked about a slight change to his own car.
“The car is ready to go. It’s got a motor in it, it’s painted, it’s ready for me to crank it up,” Joe said. “My dad’s name is on the side of the car, so now I can have my name on the side of this car.”
Although he may crack a few jokes about whose name is on the side of the car, Joe Gary remains humble and hasn’t forgotten all the helping hands, along with his father, that have made it possible for him to continue on.
“My grandpa Ira Gary has helped out tremendously and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done. Without him we wouldn’t have any of this,” Joe said. “The entire Hollingsworth family, Robert Ashley for giving me my first chance to drive and there are just too many to name.”
Joe said feels good about his current situation and the success he’s had while also juggling school work at Piedmont Tech.
Now it’s just a matter of winning again.

Opinion

Now is the time to work on cleaning up elections

November 13, 2006

There are valuable lessons to be learned from every election. Whether we learn them, of course, is not always a sure thing. In fact, if this election season is representative, we haven’t learned anything since we earned our independence.
It must be amazing and amusing to foreigners how we treat each other. It must be even more puzzling how we ever get anything accomplished. The cutthroat politics we engage in, the names we call each other and the underhanded things we do have to make even some of us wonder how we can survive in a world of ever-increasing volatility where there are people always looking for an opening to destroy us and our way of life.
Just mentally review the political process in South Carolina. Forget the national bickering and finger-pointing.

WE JUST FINISHED GETTING all we needed to tell us that something must be done to bring a sense of civility back into politicking. At least a degree of civility must be restored. Sooner or later the candidates and the people of the state will find themselves unable to overcome the heat of the battle by simply attributing it to “it’s just politics.” After a while the bitterness could easily cease to fade with time and become ingrained. What then?
Let level heads prevail. Now! The elections are over. There’s no better time for a bipartisan effort to rid South Carolina politics of the rancor and pettiness that are working against everything we should be doing to keep the pursuit of politics an honorable, respectable, and, yes, gracious part of our way of life.
Petty describes the gutter politics we’ve just witnessed. So does childish. Dirty fits, too. Nasty? Yes. Lies?
Sometimes, yes. And worse.

IF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS statesmen and women, now’s the time for them to take the lead and get something started.
Democrats. Republicans, Independents. Libertarians, Others. Get together, study the problem - it is a problem - and propose reforms.
Proposal: How about the chairmen of the political parties getting together and inviting others from academia, the clergy, medicine, business, etc., to form a committee to come up with a plan to clean up campaign rhetoric. Keep the numbers within reason so the group won’t be too large and unwieldy.
Oh, yes. By all means, invite representatives from the media ..... print and electronic. They have much to learn.

Obituaries

Otis Allen

WARE SHOALS — Otis Allen, 87, husband of Nannie Ruth Pitts Allen, of 22 Walnut St., died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006 at Hospice House in Greenwood.
He was a son of the late O.K. and Zadie Alexander Allen of Greenwood County and was retired from Riegel Textile Corp. Mr. Allen was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy.
Surviving besides his wife of the home are a son, Ray Allen of the home; a daughter, Bobbie Jean White of Ware Shoals; numerous brothers and sisters; five grandchildren, Travis Ray Allen, Nicholas Cory Allen, Tammy Lowery, Scottie Allen and Kevin Allen; three great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a son, Jimmy Allen.
Funeral services are 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mausoleum Chapel in Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Rev. Larry McCall and Mr. Mark Lowe officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will be at the home of Jimmy and Bobbie Jean White, 20 Green Acres Drive and will receive friends Monday, 6-8 at Parker-White Funeral Home.

Roy Ferqueron

Mr. Roy O’Neal Ferqueron, entered peaceful rest with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, after a brief illness.
He was born on September 6, 1942 in McCormick to the late Luther Lee and Minnie Bell Ferqueron. He was retired from Ferqueron and Son’s Tree Service. Roy was a charter member of New Life Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon. He has touched the lives of many and was loved by all. Roy was an avid hunter and fisherman, also a wonderful husband, father, papa and friend.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Linda Jean McKinney Ferqueron of the home; his children, Mrs. Thomas (Lottie) Hammond, Karen Weaghington, Lee Ferqueron, Neal Ferqueron and his beloved pet, “lil Man”; brothers, Ray and Ollie Lee Ferqueron, sisters, Sadie Whitten, Doris Brown and Peggy Royston; and eight grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services are 11a.m. Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend A.L. (Bud) Tumblin officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers are Doug Ferqueron, Curtis Hilley, Archie Ferqueron, Thomas Hammond, Al Finley and Al Tumblin The family is at the home, 2005 Airport Road.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Alma Gordon

Alma Cannon Gordon, 96, resident of Magnolia Manor, formerly of Briggs Ave., widow of Warren Carter Gordon, died Nov. 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville County, May 18, 1910, she was a daughter of the late Ira A. and Mary Eliza Edwards Cannon. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School, attended Lander College and was formerly employed by the Style Shop.
Mrs. Gordon was a member of Fraser Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the adult Sunday school class and the women of the church.
She was predeceased by two sons, Edward Ray Gordon and Wilton A. Gordon.
Surviving are a son, Kenneth E. and wife Melissa Gordon of Edgefield and a daughter, Eloise and husband Charles Walker of Hodges; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services are 3 p.m. Tuesday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Shauna Kelly and Rev. Rudolph Chasteen officiating.
Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Paul Driggers, Andy Walker, Brandon Glaze, Randy Gordon, Kevin Gordon, Tim Walker, Chris Gordon, Bobby Cannon, Lee Cannon and Grady Cannon.
Honorary escorts are men of Fraser Presbyterian Church.
The family is at the home of Eloise and Charles Walker, 102 Hollandy Drive, Hodges and will receive friends at the funeral home 7-9 Monday evening.
Memorials may be made to Fraser Presbyterian Church, 400 Cross Street, Greenwood, SC 29646. For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Gordon Family.

Michael Moorhead

ANDERSON — Michael Guy Moorhead, 62, of 313 North St., died Friday, Nov. 10, 2006 at his residence.
Born Aug. 24, 1944 in Anderson County, he was the son of the late Guy and Mabel Carlton Moorhead. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 28 years, Jo Ann Meredith Moorhead. Mike was a 1962 graduate of Boys High School and a 1966 graduate of Clemson University. He was a retired professional electrical engineer and was a member of First Baptist Church of Anderson.
Surviving are two daughters, Alison Phillips and her husband John of Abbeville; Ann Marie Armstrong of Anderson; grandchildren, Madeline Phillips of Abbeville and Travis O’Sullivan of Anderson; sister, Jean Morris and her husband Robert of Anderson; brother, Steve Moorhead of Anderson; sister-in-law, Carolyn Todd and her husband Ben of Loris; five nieces and three nephews.
Funeral services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sullivan-King Mortuary, Northeast Chapel, conducted by Rev. Steven Silvey.
Burial is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at the northeast chapel, 3205 North Highway 81. The family is at the residence.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorials be made to the Cancer Association of Anderson, 215 E. Calhoun St., Anderson, SC 29621 or to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
Sullivan-King Mortuary, Northeast Chapel

Marvin Kenneth Rogers

MOUNT CARMEL — Marvin Kenneth Rogers, 43, of 142 Ike Road, died Saturday November 11, 2006.
The family is at the home of his mother, Gennie Middleton, 142 Ike Road.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.