Opinions differ on proposal

Park/water line plan sparks debate

August 1, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

If you were to stroll through the grass at the old water plant at the corner of Grace Street and the Highway 72 Bypass without any knowledge of its history or any current discussions, it wouldn’t strike you as a hotly debated piece of land.
The old water treatment building on the property sits serenely, long ago abandoned. On the upper end of the property, near Laurel Avenue, you might occasionally see people out in the open grass practicing golf chip shots from one hill to another.
Every once in a while, Greenwood police officers or Greenwood County sheriff’s deputies park their patrol cruisers under the big tree on the Grace Street side near the driveway, looking to catch drivers breaking the speed limit or perhaps just taking a break.
But the docile scenes should not be taken at face value.
The 54-acre plot of land has a rollicking history dating back to the turn of the 20th century and running right up to an emergency called Commissioners of Public Works meeting Monday afternoon.
According to “Greenwood County: A History” by Ann Herd Bowen, the land was officially taken from resident Belle Yoe in 1911, with the city using eminent domain to acquire the land after the famously stubborn Yoe refused to sell it. The city wanted the land to increase its holdings at a power plant on the property.
The site was later used as a park, called Oak Hill, and as a municipal golf course. And, of course, CPW operated a water plant facility on the land for decades.
All of this seemed ancient local history until recently, when the subject of a public park at the Grace Street site was resurrected. After years of saying it would donate the land for use as a park, CPW changed course three weeks ago and voted to consider selling the land.
Then, in a well-attended public meeting last week, county council agreed to accept the land and all the liabilities and maintenance that would come with it. Under that plan, CPW would deed the land to the city, which would in turn deed it to the county.
CPW officials, however, questioned the legality of giving away such a large portion of land without fair compensation, leading to a new proposal Monday during a special called meeting.
CPW is asking county council to issue bonds in the net amount of $4 million, which would be used to extend water service lines and fire protection to areas of Greenwood County that do not have those services.
After the construction of said lines, they would be conveyed by the county to CPW to operate.
In exchange for the construction of $4 million of water lines, CPW says it will convey the entire 54-acre Grace Street Water Plant property to the county by quitclaim deed, as is, with no conditions attached.
Under the proposal, the locations of the proposed water service lines would be mutually agreed upon by the county and CPW. CPW does own and operate water service lines outside the city. On Tuesday, CPW manager Steve Reeves discussed the proposal and the prospect of water lines.
“We have put in water lines in the county,” Reeves said. “However, as (CPW attorney Bill) Patrick explained Monday, we are a city utilities provider. In the past we have only installed and operated lines outside the city when there is an economic feasibility.”
Reeves said there is precedent for CPW to receive grant funds to install rural water systems. He also said property owners have contributed funds, as well as developers looking to establish housing on large tracts of land.
Reeves said chairman Henry Watts came up with Monday’s proposal, and Reeves said he thinks it is a good one.
“We have gotten a legal opinion that we cannot do this without getting market value for the property,” Reeves said. “With this proposal, we get $4 million of assets added to our system, people in certain rural areas will get clean, potable drinking water and fire protection, and the parks commission will get 54 acres for a new park. It’s win-win.”
However, Greenwood County Council members have yet to express a desire to embark on the plan. Chairman Robbie Templeton asserted Monday evening that the county’s position had not changed, in that it is willing to accept the land and the responsibility that comes with it should it be deeded to the city and then to the county.
On Tuesday, county councilman Patrick Moody had strong words for CPW’s new proposal.
“Quite honestly, I think the proposal is a joke,” Moody said. “It’s laughable. What it says to me is that they didn’t want to get money through selling the land, so they are trying to run an end around and get money another way.
“They want us to issue bonds to put in water lines. They are the ones that install water lines. Those people in rural areas should have had water long ago.”
When asked if county council would consider the proposal in a public meeting, Moody said he wasn’t sure because council isn’t in the practice of discussing proposals that “have no merit.”
Councilman Dee Compton also expressed some concern.
“I’m on record as being in support of the park,” Compton said. “I thought we had fully responded to (CPW’s) concerns regarding this land. We addressed the issues of liability and with maintaining the property. Now we have this, which is a huge shift from anything we’ve heard about this issue.
“For nearly 20 years, CPW has been offering this land for use as a park. So this is a surprise. My first concern is for the taxpayers I represent, and I’m not sure this (proposal) would be in their best interest.”

Man wrecks motorbike on Main St.

August 1, 2007

By LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writer

A man who was injured Tuesday afternoon after crashing his motorized bicycle airlifted out of Greenwood by helicopter.
Although the age and identity of man is unknown, one witness said the victim lost control of his bike after cutting in front of — and narrowly avoiding a collision with — an automobile.
The crash, said Jessica Deal, who drove up to the scene of the crash shortly after the man fell, occurred at the intersection of Main Street and Washington Avenue in Greenwood near the county library.
“The man’s head and back were laying against the curb and the sidewalk,” Deal said. “When I stopped, I could tell he had pretty bad head and back injuries. He was trying to get up, and I told him to lay down and not to move.”
A Greenwood police report said the injured man tried to make a left turn onto Washington, lost control and struck the curb as he turned onto Washington.
After emergency medical personnel arrived, the man was taken to the old Carolina Ball Field on Phoenix Street, where a medical helicopter landed before taking him to a Greenville hospital.
One emergency medical technician said he thought the man’s injuries were not life threatening, and the man was being airlifted so medical personnel could better evaluate the extent of his injuries.

Infant mortality high in Abbeville

August 1, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

The annual release of South Carolina “Kids Count” statistics has highlighted areas of significant concern regarding child health and well-being in the Lakelands.
The most alarming statistics place Abbeville County last in an already poor-performing state in infant mortality rate, with 22 infant deaths per 1,000 births. South Carolina ranks 48th nationally.
Infant mortality rates — especially in states with numbers as low as South Carolina’s — have been given plenty of attention in the media and by government entities. Of the Lakelands counties, Saluda fielded the best mark at 8.5 infant deaths (from birth to 1 year) per 1,000 births.
Greenwood came in at 12.9. McCormick ranked 44th in the state at 17.2 infant deaths per 1,000 births.
By contrast, the top two counties in the Palmetto State — Edgefield County and Jasper County — reported 3.7 and 4.4 infant deaths per 1,000 births, respectively, numbers good enough to best the leading state in the country.
Clair Boatwright, Department of Health and Environment Control spokeswoman, said the statewide fight against infant mortality is not the responsibility of any one organization or group.
“It’s a multifaceted problem, which needs cooperation from many different agencies,” she said. “This is not a DHEC issue; it’s a multi-state issue, and everyone has a stake in this. Many agencies are partnered in this.”
Boatwright said the legislature has earmarked $1,136,000 to begin battling the alarming state figure.
The funds will be used for additional home health workers.
“Infant mortality is a very high priority, and home health nurses have not been funded,” she said. “They were part of cuts in the past, so now we’re getting them back. They’ll make visits where they can have the biggest impact. A home health worker can provide education and identify issues that we want to alert new mothers to. Anytime you can make d a difference, it helps.”
One of the DHEC goals focuses on full-term pregnancies.
“One of the factors is economics, and we have a lot of poor people in this state, but if we can keep babies in the womb full term, every day makes a difference,” Boatwright added. “Pre-pregnancy counseling is important, but you can’t always plan a pregnancy. If you can get the prenatal vitamins going and do it a few months ahead, it makes a positive difference.”
In the overall rankings among 46 Palmetto State counties — rankings were compiled based on an average of the nine well-being indicators of low birth weight, infant mortality, child death, teen deaths, birth to teens, high school dropouts, idle teens, children in poverty and children in single-parent families — Greenwood was 20th, followed by Abbeville at 25th, Saluda at 30th and McCormick at 44th. Allendale County was 46th, while Greenville County was first.
In child death rate (deaths for ages 1-14 per 100,000), Greenwood led the Lakelands at 23.3 deaths, followed by Abbeville at 27.1 deaths, Saluda at 38.3 deaths and McCormick at 49.2 child deaths per 100,000 births.
Greenwood County ranked near the top of the state in fewest number of teen deaths (ages 15-19 per 100,000) with 66.1 (sixth statewide).
Abbeville and McCormick counties rated side by side at 104.8 and 106.7 teen deaths, respectively, with Saluda County 44th in the state at 140.5.
McCormick was the top performing county in the Lakelands with the fewest number of teen births, with 50.6 (ages 15-19 per 1,000). Abbeville was just behind McCormick at 50.7, with Greenwood at 53.0 and Saluda at 65.
Children being raised in single-parent households are another concern.
McCormick County had the lowest ranking in the Lakelands in that category at 48.6 percent (of children living in single-parent homes). Greenwood came in at 38 percent, with Abbeville at 32.6 percent and Saluda at 32.5 percent.
Dr. A. Baron Holmes, S.C. Kids Count project director, said some statistics can appear more overwhelming than others.
Holmes contrasted the way statistics are calculated between the information gathered for infant mortality rates and those living in single-parent homes.
One additional infant death (which could be the difference between six deaths and seven deaths) will drive up the percentage dramatically, whereas the large numbers of single-parent households are indeed overwhelming.
He also sees the Greenwood area as a well-being battleground.
“We ought to be able to reach the national average in something like infant mortality because it’s not as overwhelming as children living in single-parent families,” Holmes said. “Greenwood is one of those intermediate counties between areas that are booming and rural counties that are shrinking.
“If we can’t make it in these places, then it’s bad news for South Carolina.”
For information about the 2007 S.C. Kids Count study, visit www.sckidscount.org.

Obituaries

Doris Suddreth Crane

LAURENS — Doris Suddreth Crane, age 73, of 2848 Hwy. 221 S., died Tuesday, July 31, 2007 in the Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
She was born in Laurinburg, NC, and was the daughter of the late Cecil M. and Agnes Tyner Suddreth.
Mrs. Crane was a former business partner of Success1 Tans; was a member of the Eastern Star and of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, L.C. Crane of the home; a son, Larry C. Crane of Gray Court; three daughters, Sandra Crane Williams of Waterloo, Linda Carol Crane of Laurens and Glenda Crane Hawkins of Greenville; two brothers, Winford Suddreth and Charles (Bud) Suddreth, both of Carthage, NC; three sisters, Polly McNeill, Betty Jean Dowd and Carol Booth, all of Carthage, NC; two granddaughters, Chasney Williams Clayton and Katy Brooke Jones; a great-granddaughter, Addison Claire Clayton.
Graveside services will be conducted Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. in Westview Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. in the Gray Funeral Home Chapel of Laurens.
Memorials may be made to the Self Regional Medical Center-Medical Oncology, 1325 Spring St., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com.
Gray Funeral Home of Laurens is serving the family.

Virginia Haskell Gray

ABBEVILLE — Virginia Haskell Gray, 73, of 306 Meadow Drive, died Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at Abbeville Nursing Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Richie Funeral Home.

John Wright

John Francis Wright, 94, resident of Wesley Commons, widower of Angie Mulkey Taylor Wright, died July 31, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Seneca, April 26, 1913, he was a son of the late Wallace Duncan and Birdsey Picket Wright. He was a US Navy Veteran of WWII and was retired from Mauldin Lumber Co.
A member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Henry Reynolds Sunday School Class of the church, he was also a member of Greenwood Masonic Lodge No. 91 A.F.M., Greenwood Lions Club and American Legion Post No. 20.
Mr. Wright was twice married, first to the late Mary Frances Talbert Wright.
Surviving are a stepdaughter, Anne Taylor Coscioni of Aiken; two grandchildren, Robert Lominick of Orlando, FL, and Marcus Lominick of Charleston; a number of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a grandchild, Taylor Lominick.
A private family burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens Thursday morning.
Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. George Wilson and Rev. Carol Peppers-Wray officiating.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Henry Reynolds Sunday School Class.
The family will receive friends in the church lobby immediately following the service.
The family request that flowers be omitted and memorials made to First Presbyterian Church, 108 E. Cambridge Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Wright family.

Opinion

No smoking on beach: What could it be next?

August 1, 2007

Considering the health-threatening evidence produced over the years about smoking, it may be understandable why many South Carolinians want to ban the habit in public places. That, of course, is because some of the evidence has shown that secondary smoke that non-smokers might have to breathe in tight quarters can also be dangerous. What about wide open outside places, though?
Some people must think it’s a danger, even when there are breezes to disperse “secondary” smoke and it should be questionable whether it presents a problem for anyone.
All over the Palmetto State there has been a growing tendency to ban smoking ..... in places of business, government buildings, etc. That, too, is understandable, since non-smokers who work in and patronize those places can be and often are subjected to secondary smoke.

ONE CITY INVOLVED IS Charleston. There now is a smoking ban in enclosed workplaces, including common work areas, auditoriums, classrooms, meeting rooms, private offices, hallways, cafeterias, employee lounges, staircases and restrooms. Smoking outside is permitted if smoke does not enter the building. There are exceptions. They include some hotel rooms, private homes, retail tobacco stores and cigar bars, in theatrical productions, as part of religious ceremonial rituals, and at medical research facilities.
In other communities, there have been, to be sure, challenges to smoking bans in some places ..... bars, for example. As yet, the courts haven’t clarified some of the situations where there are smoking bans, although in most places there’s been no question whether smoking could be banned.

NOW, THE TOWN OF Surfside Beach (just below Myrtle Beach), has decided that smoking on the beach will be outlawed come October. Cigarette butts and trash are given as two of the justifications.
Nevertheless, some. no doubt, will question the ban in the wide open spaces at the beach. After all, sales of tobacco are legal and such a ban is likely to be seen by some as too drastic. They might wonder if anti-littering laws would be better. Some may even wonder if the ban is upheld - one way or another - how long it would be before other personal use items are banned ..... on the beach and other outdoors venues such as lakes, rivers and many outdoor events like automobile races or fishing tournaments.
Ridiculous thought? Who would have imagined smoking would be banned on a beach?