Plans for new library under way

January 12, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Now that officials know where a large part of the funding will be coming from, Greenwood County residents officially can begin looking forward to a new county library.
Following the approval of an additional penny sales tax at the polls last November, plans for the new facility are well under way. The new library will be built on South Main Street on the land next to Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. That site currently houses the old Winn-Dixie building.
County manager James Kier outlined where the project stands. “The library is currently being designed by the architects,” he said. “It looks like we’ll be able to take down the old Winn-Dixie building in a couple of months.”
The new library will be a big step up — physically and in terms of the programs offered — from the current facility just off Main Street.
Kier said the new building will be about 62,000 square feet in size, compared to roughly 23,000 in the older library.
Additional land will be purchased to accommodate the library, as Kier said the county will acquire the block behind the current old Winn-Dixie building to make room for the new building and parking.
Greenwood County Library director Prudence Taylor touched on the timeline for construction on the library.
“We’re hoping to break ground in August,” Taylor said. “We’ll have an official groundbreaking ceremony and all of that. From there, construction will probably take 12 to 14 months. After that, we will begin furnishing and fitting it out. We’re looking at December 2008 or January 2009 as possible dates for opening.
“So either the citizens will get a big Christmas present or a great start to the new year.”
Taylor said the staff at the current library is beginning to get excited about the new facility. She said one aspect that has recently been tweaked and redesigned is what will be the Teen Center portion of the library.
She said the area has now been imagined as a large area where teens will find books for their age group, age-appropriate computer programs, graphic novels and areas for board games such as checkers and chess.
“It will be on the second floor, and a staff member will be in charge of the area,” Taylor said. “We tweaked it to be a bigger area, giving the teens a lot more room up there.”
With plans for the Teen Center, as well as an area for younger children, a nursery and a family restroom with changing tables, Taylor said the new library will be very family-friendly.
She added it will be an appropriate haven for adults, too.
“We will have plenty of rooms for adults to read and study,” Taylor said. “There will be quiet rooms, where people can go and read in silence.”
Extra staff will be brought on board to accommodate the expanded offerings. Taylor said she expects to hire as many as 12 additional staff members. Library hours, however, will remain similar to what they are now.
The library will come at a cost of $10 million. The penny sales tax — which will add a cent to the existing 5-percent sales tax — takes effect May 1. The tax also will be used to help pay for the rehabilitation of Buzzard’s Roost Dam on Lake Greenwood.
If county voters had not voted for the penny tax, property taxes around the county could have been raised to pay for the projects.
“The county council wants to thank the voters around the county for approving the 1-cent sales tax,” Kier said. “We are going to do everything as effectively and officially as possible. And as soon as we can, we will make sure the 1-cent tax goes away.”
The penny tax will end when the projects are paid for or after seven years have passed.
Taylor said she is happy the penny tax passed, and not just because it makes way for the new library to be built.
“As a property owner in Greenwood, I’m happy my property taxes won’t be going up,” she said.

Chiefs dunk Abbeville

January 12, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

McCORMICK — Brandon Sisco scored 21 points and the McCormick Chiefs beat the Abbeville Panthers 58-52 Thursday night in the third and final meeting of the season between the two Lakelands squads.
Ty Suit led the Panthers with 21 as well.
The Chiefs won the first meeting of the season 59-54, but lost to the Panthers in the Bearcat Christmas Classic, 45-44, as time expired.
“Our defense tightened up a little bit and we were able to get some easy baskets,” Chiefs coach Elmer Williams said. “I think everybody who played stood out. It was a good win, but it doesn’t get any easier.”
Tuesday night’s matchup was as close as the previous two as both teams battled in a packed gym.
The Panthers led by eight points and seemed to be in control following a shot by Darius Brown with three minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter, their largest lead of the night.
Following a timeout by coach, the Chiefs came out swinging.
A three-pointer by Peterson cut the Panthers’ lead to three with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter. Moments later, Sisco tied the game with a three-pointer.
The Chiefs went into the final period trailing 42-40, but had one last run left.
The Chiefs grabbed the lead for good thanks to an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter.
“We gave up a couple of lay-ups there and they got a nice spurt at the right time,” Panthers coach James Herman said.
“That’s what made the difference in the game. Tonight didn’t hurt us, but it’s a good test for us as a playoff-type game.”
The Chiefs’ Cody Mursier brought the crowd to their feet with an early dunk that gave the Chiefs a 9-7 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
They still led by one, 18-17, after the opening period thanks to a late three-pointer by Darius Bussey.
The teams traded a few baskets in the second quarter as the Panthers held on to a slim lead at the half, 27-24.

Obituaries

LaDell Allen

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — LaDell Burroughs Plake Allen entered into rest on Jan. 1, 2007 at Jupiter Medical Center, Jupiter, Fla. A resident of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Mrs. Allen previously lived in Hodges, S.C. Mrs. Allen was the daughter of the late Wilbur and Doris Burroughs of Hodges.
She is survived by her husband, Tom Allen of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; a son and daughter-in-law, Barker and Yvette Plake of Hodges; a daughter and son-in-law, Annette and Keith Batson of Ware Shoals, SC; seven grandchildren; a sister, Donna Porter of Augusta, Ga.; and two brothers, Stan Burroughs of Lake Wales, Fla., and Robin Burroughs of Hodges. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Hodges. The family will receive friends from 1:30-3 prior to the service. Revs. Byron Wood and Scott Dublin will officiate.
Memorials may be made to Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Morgan Road, Hodges or to the charity of one’s choice.

Hazel Bearden

CROSS HILL — Hazel Thomas Bearden, 84, of 749 McCrary Road, Cross Hill, widow of John W. Bearden, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Moore, she was a daughter of the late G.C. and Nora McAbee Thomas. She was retired from Headstart and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving is her daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Michael Hackmeyer of Mobile, AL; a brother, W.A. Thomas of Cross Hill; and two grandchildren, Christopher Hackmeyer and Casey Hackmeyer, both of Mobile, AL.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Oakbrook Memorial Park with the Rev. Robert Dorn officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice House, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Doris Hughes

ABBEVILLE — Doris Kirby Hughes, 84, resident of 401 Magazine St., died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007 at the Hospice House in Greenwood, SC.
Born in Abbeville Co., SC, she was a daughter of the late Roland and Martha Norrell Wilson Kirby.
She was a retired Librarian for over 40 years and a homemaker. She was of the Methodist faith. She was a beloved mother and grandmother and she was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all.
Survivors are: 2 daughters, Tena H. Prince and her husband, Mike of Abbeville, SC, and Doris H. Hammons of Perry, GA; 3 sons, John G. Hughes, Jr., of Long Beach, CA, Fred K. Hughes of Coco, FL, and William Van Hughes of Abbeville, SC; 1 sister, Viola K. Kirby of York, SC; 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother Fred Roland Kirby.
Services will be announced at a later date.
The family is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Prince, 1415 Sharon Church Road, Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC, is in charge of arrangements.

Fannie Mae Jackson

Fannie Mae Jackson, 93, of 220 Deadfall Road, widow of George W. Jackson, died Jan. 8 at Self Regional Medical Center.
She was born in Hawkinsville, GA, the daughter of the late Pink and Rebecca Whitehead Davis. She was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she was a former president of the Usher Board, deaconess and Sunday School teacher. She retired from Greenwood public school system after many years of faithful service.
Surviving are four sisters, Bertha Thomas of Oxon Hill, MD, Alice Dickens, Doris Camp and Barbara Davis of Washington, DC; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Davis of Woodbridge, VA; and a devoted friend, Jessie Foster of Greenwood.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at noon from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, with Rev. Bernard White officiating.
Burial will be in Evening Star.
Pallbearers will be Louis Pittman, Jack Williams, Michael Davis, Jerry Davis, Jr., Leon Goode and Bob Coleman.
Flower bearers will be friends of the family.
The family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m.-noon Saturday.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Online condolences: pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Philip Lake

Philip Lake, 74, resident of 107 Corrie Court, husband of Marcella Jerry Lake, died Jan. 10, 2007 at the Self Regional Medical Center.
Born May 9, 1932 in Harrison, New Jersey, he was a son of the late Frederick and Mary Madden Lake. A US Army Veteran, he served in the Korean War and the 82nd Airborne Division. Mr. Lake was of the Catholic faith.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 54 years of the home are two daughters, Carol Sherman of Howell, NJ, and Donna Chavarria and husband, Gonzalo of Lexington; three sons, Robert Lake and wife, Teri of Greenwood, Kenneth Lake and David Lake, both of Kearny, NJ; twelve grandchildren, Kimberly Johnson, Kelly Sherman, Danielle, Andrew and Brianna Chavarria, Valerie, Brad, Kenneth, Jr., Jennifer, Kristen, David, Jr. and Philip Lake; three sisters, Marilyn Polomski, Shirley Durand and Joan Fearns; and brother, Henry Lake. Mr. Lake was preceded in death by a son, Philip Lake, Jr.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Blyth Funeral Home with Father Allam Marreddy and Fred Bosarge officiating. Entombment will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
For additional information and online condolences, please, visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Lake family.

George Lee Jr.

ABBEVILLE — George Lee Jr., 80, of 1024 Haigler St. Extension, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at his home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Opinion

Our differences on Iraq not hard to understand

January 12, 2007

Needless to say, there are widespread differences all around this country on what this nation should do in Iraq. The reaction to President Bush’s plan to increase our numbers there and to change strategies leaves no doubt.
Nothing, though, demonstrates our differences more than the stated positions of two elected U. S. lawmakers from South Carolina. The fact they’re both Republican adds emphasis to the difference.
The two are Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Bob Inglis, both from the Upstate.
Graham, of course, has long favored increasing our troop strength in Iraq. He sees it as necessary if we want to win the conflict.

FURTHERMORE, HE SAYS, THE U. S. cannot afford not to be victorious, that losing would undermine the entire Middle East more than ever. It also would lead to more and bolder threats within this country, he says.
Inglis, on the other hand, says he doubts the usefulness of increasing our presence in Iraq. Until the Iraqi people settle their differences, adding to our strength there might not be effective, Inglis says.
Considering the opinions of these two Republican lawmakers, it’s understandable why the American people in general have even more scattered views. There is one thing very clear, however. Graham is right. A pull-out without victory cannot be an option.