Danger Zones: Greenwood’s top spots for collisions
U.S. 25 is No. 1 on list of perilous roadways
January 7, 2007
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer
With new businesses popping up frequently and more cars on the
road than ever before, navigating the roadways around Greenwood
County can be a difficult, if not dangerous, task.
As such, the state Highway Patrol has noted the roads and
highways in Greenwood on which the most collisions occur.
U.S. 25, which runs all the way through town from Hodges and back
out heading toward Edgefield, is far and away the most dangerous
thoroughfare, according to Highway Patrol statistics.
Of the 1,172 collisions the SCHP responded to in Greenwood County
in 2006, 19.8 percent took place on U.S. 25.
U.S. 221 and S.C. 72 tied for the second-most dangerous, each
accounting for 6.1 percent of collisions. Secondary Highway 58
was next with 4.6 percent, while S.C. 254 was fifth with 3.3
percent.
S.C. Highway Patrolman Scot Edgeworth explained why U.S. 25 and
S.C. 72 ranked so high on the list.
“Those are simply the highest areas of congestion,”
Edgeworth said. “For example, 25 stretches all the way
through town. When you get so many people starting, stopping and
turning, there is potential for problems.”
Edgeworth said the term “collision” includes anything
from the most minor fender-bender to the most horrific fatal
crash.
While the Highway Patrol has compiled large amounts of exacting
data, citizens around Greenwood have their own opinions about
which roads, intersections and streets are the worst and most
dangerous areas for driving.
As Greenwood’s Rhudine Hudson stood outside Wal-Mart on the
S.C. 72 Bypass, she was clear about what intersection in town she
thinks is the worst.
“That one right there,” Hudson said, pointing to the
intersection directly in front of Wal-Mart, near Murphy USA gas
station and Hardee’s. “It’s just unbelievable.”
Hudson said she has noticed many people at the intersection
driving recklessly while talking on cell phones.
Despite the congregation Hudson noted in front of Wal-Mart, the
busiest intersection in the city is the crossing of U.S. 25 and
S.C. 72, near Ruby Tuesday’s and the Greenwood Mall.
Gilbert Yates, a 19-year-old Lander University student, expressed
his frustration with the congestion there.
“It’s just ridiculous,” Yates said. “Especially
right there in front of Wendy’s where the median gets
smaller. That’s just dangerous right in that area.”
Yates said he has learned he can encounter less traffic and safer
roads by taking “shortcuts” on back roads and
residential streets as much as possible. He said he likes to
avoid the S.C. 72 Bypass and U.S. 25 intersection as much as
possible.
Jack Schreier, who works at The Shepherd’s Shoppe in
Westwood Plaza, said he has come up with a surefire solution to
stay safe on local roads.
“I keep my distance,” Schrier said, laughing loudly.
“You see people out here talking on the phone with one hand
and putting on make-up with the other. I keep my distance.”
Edgeworth has advice for those traveling on Greenwood’s
busiest roads.
“Drive like you life depends on it,” Edgeworth said.
“Because it does. Everyone could afford to be a little more
defensive while driving, both on main roads and secondary roads.”
District 50 refinances bond plan
Lower interest rate secured for school construction work
January 7, 2007
By
BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer
Greenwood School District 50 is celebrating the beginning of 2007
with new bonds for school construction.
The district’s $150 million installment purchase bonds were
issued Dec. 29, said Bill Hirata, District 50’s bond
attorney. District 50 had until Dec. 31, 2006, the deadline
decided by the South Carolina legislature, to complete its bond
plan.
District 50 will use the money, which will be paid back across 25
years with interest, for three new elementary schools as well as
renovations and modifications to the rest of its schools. Hirata
said about $145 million of the bonds can be used for projects,
while the other $5 million is being held in reserve.
Government agencies sell bonds to the public and investors to pay
for large projects, where the money gained from the sale is given
to an agency, such as District 50, and paid back over an
established period of time. District 50 went with a taxable bond
issue in December that, through refunding, will become a
tax-exempt bond issue, Hirata said.
Part of the reason the bonds are being refunded is to secure a
lower interest rate for the district. A lower interest rate will
make for a lower repayment schedule on the bonds over their
25-year life, Hirata said.
Paying back the principal and interest on the bonds with less
general obligation bonds each year lets those bonds be used more
for schools. Hirata said the $257 million bond payback might be
changed, depending on the interest rate.
Dexia, the French bank that bought the bonds before the district’s
lawsuit with Henry Johnson was settled, might buy the tax-exempt
bonds, depending on whether it has the best tax-exempt interest
rate, Hirata said.
Johnson, along with the South Carolina Public Interest
Foundation, filed a lawsuit Nov. 3 against District 50, its bond
plan, superintendent Darrell Johnson and former chairwoman Dru
James.
Childs & Halligan, attorneys for the district, countersued
Dec. 4 for $50 million in damages, but the lawsuits were settled
Dec. 18. The district’s counterclaims were made without a
public vote by the entire school board — a move several
attorneys, including the state’s foremost open meetings
expert, say might be illegal.
Refunding the bonds might be completed this week or later in
January.
“We are hopeful that it will be closed by the end of the
month,” Hirata said.
District 50’s school board and Greenwood Fifty School
Facilities Inc., the nonprofit corporation created to help the
district pay for school construction, must have meetings before
refunding is done.
The next scheduled school board meeting is Jan. 16.
The school board passed an amended resolution Dec. 18 that
allowed the district to use taxable bonds in the place of
tax-free bonds and enters District 50 into an agreement with the
nonprofit corporation.
Lula Belcher
HODGES
— Lula Belcher, 75, of 213 Belcher Road, widow of
Joseph Belcher, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at Self Regional
Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a sister, Mamie Robinson, 5836
Highway 25 N.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins.
Henry Holsomback
LINCOLNTON,
Ga. — Henry Lonnie “Buck” Holsomback, LTC retired,
widower of Virginia Nicholas Holsomback, passed away at his home,
Saturday, Jan. 06, 2007.
Born in Greenwood, August 10, 1932, he was a son of Fatie
Henderson Holsomback and Henry Lonnie Holsomback. He was a
graduate of Greenwood High School and Marion College,
Indianapolis, Ind. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1977 after
serving in Germany, Korea, and Viet-Nam. He was a member of St.
Paul United Methodist Church, Lincolnton Ga. He was predeceased
by a grandson, Steve Holsomback and sisters, Edith Byrd, Ollie
Bosdell , and Frances Sexton.
Surviving are a daughter, Ann H. Smith of Greenwood; son David
and wife Elanor of the home; sister Betty H. Craft of Greenwood;
one grandson; two step grandchildren; one great grandson; devoted
caregiver, Suzie Mariney.
Services will be 3 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with
the Rev. David Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow at
Greenwood Memorial Gardens with full military rites.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive
friends Monday from 1:30-3 p.m.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church,
Thomson Highway, Lincolnton, Ga.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Guy Kidd
Guy
Edwin Kidd, 81, of 3505 County Farm Road, husband of Blanche
Fulbright Kidd, went to be with his Lord, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007.
Born in Madison County, Ga., he was a son of the late O.T. and
Jessie Mae Carithers Kidd. Mr. Kidd retired from Snead Builders
and was a craftsman by trade. He was a member of New Market
Baptist Church where he was a former deacon, trustee, and Sunday
school director. He was also on the Building and Grounds
Committee and was in charge of the yard care at the church.
He was predeceased by a sister and seven brothers.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, Royce
Kidd and his wife Sandra of Greenwood; three brothers, Bryant
Kidd, Richard Kidd, and Theron Kidd, all of Greenwood; two
granddaughters, Janice Kidd Dennis and her husband Alain of
Newberry and Karen Kidd Walworth and her husband Clint of
Greenwood; two great-grandchildren, Grayson and Mikayla Dennis of
Newberry; a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held 3 p.m. Monday at Greenwood
Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Stanley Sprouse and Joe Fulbright
officiating.
Pallbearers will be Carroll Addy, Melvin Foshee, Heyward Kidd,
Theron Kidd, Chris Kidd and Larry Kidd.
The family will receive friends 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday at Harley
Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 408 West Alexander Ave.,
Greenwood, SC 29646.
The family is at their respective homes.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory are in charge of
arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Anna Burrell Knox
CLINTON — Anna Burrell Knox, 92, widow of William “Bill”
Knox, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at NHC of Clinton.
Born in Rome, Ga., she was a daughter of John J. and Vesta Smith
Burrell. She was former owner and operator of Panorama Lodge
Restaurant for over fifty years.
Surviving are a brother, Homer J. Burrell of Clearwater, Fla.;
nieces, Ann Roberts of Longwood, Fla., Catherine B. Le Gros of
Oxford, N.C., Barbara Ann Huckins of Foster City, Fla., and
Brenda Burrell of San Francisco; nephew, Cecil Burrell Jr. of
Waterloo; great nieces, Olivia A. Rann of Mountville and Amy M.
Allen of Greenwood; great-nephew, Damon L. Burrell of Knoxville,
Tenn.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home with the
Rev. Phil Bryson officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood
Memorial Gardens.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive
friends Sunday night from 6-8 p.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Gladys Mason
Gladys
Jenkins Mason, 94, formerly of South Main St., Mathews Community,
widow of William Benjamin Mason, died Jan. 6, 2007, at Hospice
House of Greenwood.
Born in Anderson County, Sept. 20, 1912, she was a daughter of
the late James P. and Lucille Bowie Jenkins. She was retired from
Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant where she was a member of the
Quarter Century Club.
Mrs. Mason was the last living charter member of Mathews United
Methodist Church where she was a member of the Willing Workers
Sunday School Class, past president of the UMW and was a member
of the church choir. She was also a past president of the Thrift
Garden Club.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Franklin D. (Bennie) McCoy of
Abbeville and a sister-in-law, Josie T. Jenkins of North
Charleston; three grandsons, Franklin D. McCoy Jr., Benjamin D.
McCoy and Matthew McCoy; six great-grandchildren. She was
predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Jenkins Davis and a brother,
Carl E. Jenkins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Mathews
United Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Lollis and Rev. Charles
F. Jenkins officiating.
Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons along with Carl E. Jenkins Jr.,
Tommy Kirby and Barry A. Bradshaw.
Honorary escort will be members of the Willing Workers Sunday
School Class.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of Franklin and Bennie McCoy, 104
Wardlaw St., Abbeville and will receive friends in the church
social hall from 10-11 Monday morning.
In lieu of flowers memorials are to be made to Mathews United
Methodist Church Parsonage Fund, P.O. Box 2066, Greenwood, SC
29646 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave.,
Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the
Mason Family.
Jayce Pennington
Jayce
Scott Pennington, 2 month old infant son of John Pennington and
Brittney Barrett, of 644 Davis Street, died Thursday, Jan. 4,
2007, at the home.
Surviving in addition to his parents are two brothers; James
Nathan Pennington and Steven Clayton Smith.
A private service will be held at a later date at a family member’s
house.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory are in charge of
arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Reunited
Former player at GHS gets back with old Newberry team
January 7, 2007
By
RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer
NEWBERRY — Brent Hughes isn’t too fond of having his
routine interrupted.
Since the auto wreck that ended Hughes’ Newberry College
basketball career almost 19 years ago, his routine has become
like breathing — an involuntary necessity.
But the former Greenwood High School standout didn’t mind
giving up his usual schedule Saturday.
He quite easily traded it for a chance to visit his old stomping
grounds at Newberry College’s Eleazer Arena for the 20th
reunion of the Indians’ Little 4 Championship during
Saturday’s Newberry men’s game against Carson-Newman
University, giving him a chance to reunite with his former
teammates for the first time in years.
“It was fun being back in the old gym again, and being back
with the players that played with me,” said Hughes, whose
6-foot-7, 260-pound frame is easily diffused by his constantly
beaming smile.
“It was fun to see my old players again. It means a lot to
me to have so many come here.”
It became an even better disruption for Hughes when he quickly
realized it was more than just a celebration for the team.
They were there for him.
That became clear when his former coach Jack Williams, who now
works for Roanoke College, pulled only one chair for Hughes to
sit on.
The banner reading “We’re here for Brent,” which
was signed by his teammates in a reception after the game, and
the cake in honor of his upcoming 40th birthday — followed
by the accompanying “Happy Birthday” song — was a
simple clear-cut giveaway.
“I didn’t know about it at all. When I saw the cake, I
was like, ‘Oh, my gosh,’” Hughes said. “It
was a big shock. It felt good. It felt good seeing my name on the
banner and seeing my friends around me like that.”
Hughes’ former teammates, some of whom traveled as far as
eight hours by car, couldn’t say yes fast enough when
Williams called weeks ago to set up this day for Hughes.
“This is one of those things in life that if you miss you’d
kick yourself,” said John Betts, Hughes’ former
roommate for two years who drove from Columbus, Ohio with his
three sons. “We were so close in school. We did everything
together pretty much 24/7 for two years. This was something I
wouldn’t miss.”
Chris Ellcessor, also a former roommate, also made the eight-plus
hour drive from Ohio to see his former teammate.
“When coach called and mentioned that this was for Brent, it
was no question,” Ellcessor said. “Of course I also
wanted to see the guys, but Brent was pretty much my best friend
and I thought the world of him.”
After the halftime ceremony, Hughes spent the entire second half
surrounded by his former teammates, many of whom he hadn’t
seen since the accident.
“It was really neat. It was a situation where everybody is
so spread out that we haven’t had a chance to get back
together and share old stories and things we remember,” said
Michael “Sparky” Hudson, the Northside Middle School
assistant principal who was the manager/trainer for the 1987-88
Newberry Indians.
Hudson said he runs into Hughes on occasion in Greenwood, but not
near as much as he’d like. When they do meet, Newberry is
the prime topic of conversation.
But while everybody was reliving old times and regaling new ones
during the game, Hughes always kept a close eye on his Indians,
who went on to win 63-60.
“It felt so good to talk with them about how we used to play
here and the things we used to do,” Hughes said. “They
(this year’s Newberry team) didn’t play inside like we
did. I pushed a lot when I was playing. We played physical ball.
They played good as a team.”
Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be
reached at: rcox@indexjournal.com.
Bearcats dominate Bobcats
January 7, 2007
By
RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer
The Lander men’s basketball team took care of business
Saturday against Georgia College and State University at Finis
Horne Arena.
The Bearcats (7-5, 2-0) turned a seven-point halftime lead into a
double-digit 67-53 victory over the Bobcats (7-6, 0-2) to remain
undefeated in conference play.
Seniors Jarred Jackson and Michael Griffin led the Bearcats with
30 and 16 points, respectively.
Fellow senior Emanuel Hodrea gave the Bearcats a defensive boost
in the win as he pulled down a team-high six rebounds to go along
with one block and two steals.
Four players reached double digits in scoring for the Bobcats,
including Aaron Clark, who finished with 12 points and 10
rebounds. Bearcats coach Bruce Evans was pleased with his team’s
play following the game, and pointed out the play of his three
seniors.
The Bearcats’ fourth senior, Jason Davis, is still out with
an injury.
“I thought we really played hard. We got on the floor for
loose balls, tried to take charges, and I just felt like our guys
were in a mode tonight where we were not going to lose this
basketball game,” Evans said. “It’s good to see
our seniors step up, and we have to play everybody because of our
situation right now.”
The Bobcats came out firing and took a 6-2 lead following
consecutive three-pointers by Aaron Gibbs.
The Bearcats outscored the Bobcats in a 9-2 run over the next
four minutes, 10 seconds, taking an 11-8 lead with 13:37
remaining in the first half.
Jackson’s three-pointer at the 6:48 mark gave the Bearcats a
26-15 lead. It was their first double-digit lead of the game and
was Jackson’s third three-pointer of the half.
The Bobcats were able to get the lead back to single digits
before halftime but the Eagles remained in control in the second
half and picked up the win in front of the home crowd.
“I though Lander played an outstanding game. I thought they
had more energy. They outworked us and out-hustled us,”
Bobcats coach Terry Sellers said. “We looked sluggish from
the very beginning. We made some runs but every time we did
Jackson hit several big shots. “
By
RICHARD WHITING
Executive news editor
A few readers said they really could relate to my pre-Christmas
rambling about how gifts have evolved from generation to
generation. One took me back even further, to a day when
receiving a transistor radio was on par with today’s kids
getting an iPod.
My brother and I each got a transistor radio from our uncle one
year. Man, those things were great! In its day, that radio was
indeed small and portable. A plastic box, encased in a removable
leather (not faux leather, either) sheath. All you needed was a
9-volt battery. And patience.
It actually was fun to slowly turn the dial on the side and
search out AM stations. The radio would crackle and whistle,
eventually finding a station out of Pennsylvania, Detroit or
somewhere else far away. You could “listen” to
thunderstorms on those things. There was no constant and clear
sound, as delivered by today’s digital iPods and other MP3
players, but it was fun nonetheless. I think I still have my
little radio stowed somewhere in my collection of artifacts in
the garage.
It’s confession time, too.
While reminiscing about the 8-track player and portable turntable
was fun, Santa did deliver my iPod! It’s one of those 30-gig
babies that holds somewhere around 7,500 songs! It can store
video and all sorts of other data, too! But I really wanted it
for its song storage capacity. What a convenient way of carrying
— and enjoying — a few of the CDs in my library!
The problem is in trying to determine which CDs to dump onto the
device. It’s hard to get out of the mindset when I was
recording my vinyl records onto cassette tapes. Remember how much
fun that was? Select an album, put it on the turntable and dust
it real well for optimum quality. Then, test the settings to make
sure those recording lights weren’t shooting to high into
the red zone, indicating your taped copy would sound like one of
those super-sized woofers in the car next to you on the road.
Once the settings were correct, you had to baby-sit the darn
thing so you could pause the tape and flip the record over to
continue recording. Or, in some cases, you had to decide where to
cut off the recording on one side of the tape because it would
run out before the song was finished. Geez, that auto reverse
tape deck was a great add-on! Sometimes it was easier to lose a
few seconds of a song and simply let the tape pick back up on
side B!
But with the iPod, why worry? Really, when the darn thing can
hold about 7,500 songs I might as well start in the As and keep
going until it fills up! America. Beatles. Buffett. Bush (that’s
Kate Bush!). And once it fills up, there’s always the
possibility someone will see fit to give me another iPod for my
birthday.
Note to Bob and Lois
Bob (no last name, so his identity is protected) stopped by to
say thanks for last Sunday’s 10-point New Year’s
resolution list. In particular, Bob liked the one about people
not controlling their kids in restaurants. He offered an
amendment, suggesting parents not view the movie theater as their
child’s baby-sitting service. Agreed, Bob.
The complaint lies not with their being there, but rather with
their behavior while there. If they want to watch — and hear
— the movie, fine. But too many of them turn the theater
into their social hall, yelling, talking, texting and making cell
phone calls. The rest of us, unfortunately, are left to endure
their behavior. I blame two sources for this: parents first,
theater management second.
Lois, whose last name also remains protected, wrote to say thanks
for targeting men who do not remove their hats indoors.
She wrote: “I was in a classy restaurant in New Jersey and
they actually had one of those embossed plastic signs posted at
the hostess stand. It said ‘Gentlemen, please remove your
hats before entering the dining room.’ This was at least 10
years ago and I thought it was sad that ‘gentlemen’ had
to be reminded to remove their hats. Oh, where has common
courtesy gone?”
Amen, Lois, amen.
Richard S. Whiting can be reached at rwhiting@indexjournal.com
or 943-2522.
Stopping
underage drinking is given needed attention
January 7, 2007
Admit
it or not, many parents in South Carolina have a problem. It’s
called children that drink, and those children put themselves and
innocent bystanders in danger.
That’s not a new problem, to be sure. It’s one that’s
been around for years. It’s encouraging, then, to see a
serious effort underway to strengthen state laws that deal with
underage drinking. State Sen. Joel Lourie, D - Richland and
Kershaw Counties, and Rep. Ted Pitts, R - Lexington County are
introducing legislation that would make some of the weakest laws
dealing with underage drinking into some of the strongest in the
nation.
LAWMAKERS OUGHT TO GET on board. Surprisingly,
no doubt, there will be opposition, from parents and others.
Nevertheless, stronger laws are needed to help solve a terrible
problem that too often ends in tragic losses.
It’s no secret nowadays that some parents are in perpetual
denial about their children drinking. They either don’t know
what their children are doing or don’t care. It’s hard
to say which is worse since both are equally bad and both are
inexcusable.
Actually, it’s a problem nationwide. Some disturbing
statistics make that clear. In fact, they are shocking. For
example, according to an annual study by the National Institute
on drug abuse a third of eighth graders - repeat, eighth graders
- said they had consumed alcoholic beverages.
IT GETS WORSE AS THEY grow older. More than half
of tenth graders said they use alcohol and two-thirds of seniors
do it.
While that’s on the national level, there’s no question
that underage drinking is a problem in South Carolina as well.
Chances are the national numbers match up well with those in this
state. There is no question about underage drinking hereabouts.
There’s too much evidence to deny it.
The Lourie-Pitts legislation will address much of the causes and
would provide specific penalties as well as prevention, involving
sales, possession and consumption. If state lawmakers want to
start off the new year on a positive note, they should approve
this effort without hesitation.