Saluda tax hikes to remain

Council chairman proposes compromise to alleviate tax burdens

January 9, 2007

By ERIN LONG
Index-Journal staff writer

SALUDA — At Monday’s Saluda County Council meeting, Jacob Schuppert was elected vice chairman, but few people will remember that occasion.
However, the council’s decision not to rescind a controversial property tax ordinance — despite protests from hundreds, if not thousands, of county residents — will not be forgotten any time soon.
The majority of the three-hour meeting concerned skyrocketing property taxes that have shocked county residents in recent months and even had some talking about a tea party during council meetings last month. Tax bills have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled for some residents following recent revaluations.
Increases of 700 to 800 percent have been reported in some cases.
Saluda High School’s gym was filled to capacity Monday night. The meeting began with newly elected councilman J. Frank Daniel asking for the county’s support.
“We’re going through a hard time,” he said, in what was certainly and understatement.
T. Hardee Horne, council chairman, said he received more than 300 telephone calls in the last four days from concerned residents who found themselves facing hugely inflated tax bills.
The public was given the opportunity to comment before a vote was cast for ordinance 10-06, which would have forced the recently assessed property values to be thrown out.
Residents were outspoken in their opposition. Many complained they had not been allowed sufficient time to appeal the new property value assessments, many of which were considerably higher than the previous assessments.
One speaker said, “Let’s make it so we’re not only proud to live in Saluda County, but so we can afford to live in Saluda County.” The statement was met with cheers from the crowd. Another asked why, if the council is the voice of the people, were so many people at the meeting to speak out against the tax increase.
The mood became increasingly hostile toward the council as more and more people called for action. A threat that residents would petition to annex themselves to Lexington County received a standing ovation from some residents.
A speaker demanded to know how much the council members’ taxes had increased. Of the five council members, three admitted to 10- to 15-percent increases, a fact that stirred outrage in the crowd.
After the public statements finished, council members voiced their opinions. Councilman Steven Teer promised to “work tirelessly” to make sure residents would see tangible benefits from the higher taxes, such as improved roads, but pledged to vote for the ordinance to rescind.
Councilman William Pugh, on the other hand, was more evasive about his intentions. He said only 700 appeals were filed against the property tax assessments, and implied more people should have appealed if they thought the assessments were unfair.
Daniel again asked for the community’s support, but would not say whether he intended to vote yes or no.
Schuppert simply pledged to vote yes.
Horne, slumping slightly in his chair, agreed with the crowd that the property taxes were unfair, but said they were “looking at the wrong body to correct it.”
“We cannot solve this problem locally,” Horne said. He claimed that to rescind ordinance 08-06 would merely postpone the problem, but that the real fault lay with the state, not the county.
Horne suggested an alternative solution, in which residents would have until the end of January to file an appeal against the property value assessments. He also suggested residents pay the same amount of property tax this year that they paid for 2005.
As he spoke, people began to walk out. Others catcalled and heckled. One man called out for Horne to be removed from office.
“There needs to be property tax reform in this state,” said Horne, “We’re backed into a corner here.”
When the chairman moved for a vote, Teer and Schuppert voted to rescind the ordinance. Horne and Daniel voted against it. Pugh did not cast a vote at first.
The crowd, believing the council had voted to rescind the ordinance, began to cheer.
But Horne turned to Pugh and called for a second vote. This time, Pugh voted no, and the ordinance was not rescinded.
Immediately people left their seats and rushed toward the stage, some to shake the hands of Teer and Schuppert, others to berate Horne.
“That is illegal!” cried one irate woman, claiming Horne deliberately refused to accept the first vote and influenced Pugh’s vote the second time around.
Afterwards, as the crowd gradually left the gymnasium, Teer said he was “very disappointed in the council.”
“I wish we could have found some middle ground,” he said.

Massive crowd ready to Shrinkdown

Program aims to push for healthier lifestyle

January 9, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Wendell Hall is hoping to see significantly less of himself in the mirror sometime real soon.
And he’s hardly alone.
As the Ninety Six resident filled out his registration card Monday afternoon for the second annual Greater Greenwood Shrinkdown at Greenwood Family YMCA, hundreds of others waited to do the same — many of them even outdoors.
But the lines moved along swiftly and smoothly, thanks greatly to more than 50 staff volunteers.
Participants, like Hall and wife Barbra, first filled out the cards before being weighed. After receiving the “verdict,” participants then picked up T-shirts (for the first 500 people who registered) and informational binders.
When asked why he is taking part in the Shrinkdown, Hall quickly looked down and pointed.
“See that fat belly?” he asked.
He also was honest about the impetus behind his presence and his own individual need. “I’m not excited (to be here),” he said, with a bit of a smirk. “She (pointing to his wife) is excited about me getting involved. But I am about 100 pounds overweight, so I do need to get it off.”
His wife is indeed glad to see her husband’s effort.
“I’m pleased and excited about his being here and I’m looking to lose some weight myself,” she said. “We had already been planning to join the (Self Regional) Wellness Center, so we did that today before we came over.”
‘A huge turnout’Just across a temporary partition, made up of several plastic tarps that were strung together, Greenwood Family YMCA employee and “Shrinkdown” volunteer Deidre Taber distributed T-shirts and binders.
“This is a huge turnout,” she said. “The people started lining up at around 4:15 (the event started at 5 p.m.). I think it’s great. I participated last year and we’re hoping that we have an even bigger turnout this year.”
The chances of that are good, said Greater Greenwood Shrinkdown spokeswoman Denise Manley. With the event branching out the number of Friday weigh-in sites to include Ninety Six, Ware Shoals and Abbeville, Manley thinks that will positively effect participation.
“We’re very proud of that,” she said. “We just heard from a lot of our seniors and others in different locations that it just was not convenient to have to come to Greenwood to weigh in. We hope that this will boost our participation.”
The Greater Greenwood Shrinkdown is being sponsored by Greenwood Family YMCA, Self Regional Healthcare and Lander University.
Participants on Monday also had the opportunity to have their blood pressure checked, their Body Mass Index determined and their cholesterol level screened.
Manley said the goal during the program’s nine scheduled weeks is not mere weight loss, but rather the establishment of an alternate, healthier way of life.
“This is not a quick fix, but the beginning of an effort to help people to begin a healthier lifestyle,” she said. “We give them the tools and education to help them carry on.”
Those taking part in the program will receive new additions to their binders each week when they weigh in, while having the opportunity to take advantage of several “Health Talks” on a variety of health-related subjects.
The discussions will be hosted at Lander University’s Centennial Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The first “Health Talk” will be “The Shape of a Healthy Diet,” and is Jan. 16 and 18.
“Last year we had a little more than 1,200 participants,” Manley said. “We definitely hope to surpass that this year.”
Shrinkdown challengeGreenwood County has been challenged in the Shrinkdown by Cleveland County, N.C., which is the only Tar Heel State county participating in the Shrinkdown. The challenge, based on the percentage of weight loss by participants in the two counties, was issued on behalf of Cleveland by the county’s daily newspaper, The Star of Shelby. Alan Jenkins, The Star’s managing editor, threw down the gauntlet in Saturday’s Index-Journal.
R. Shawn Lewis, The Index-Journal’s managing editor and former Shelby resident, accepted the challenge in Monday’s Star.
“I rose to defend the honor of fair Greenwood,” Lewis said with a chuckle. “I enjoyed my almost six years in the Shelby area, but hey, everyone knows North Cackalacky can’t hold a candle to our beloved Palmetto State when it comes to competition — be it football, barbecue or weight loss.
“We’ll show those Cleveland County folks who the real losers are — and I mean that in the best way possible.”
Updates of the interstate challenge will be posted weekly in The Index-Journal.

High water closes park

January 9, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — Pitts Park is usually a good place to read a book or watch the water roll lazily over the shoals that are the town’s namesake.
But Monday, rising water from the Saluda River caused the park to be closed down after a large volume release of water from the Ware Shoals dam, about 400 yards away, said Ware Shoals Police Chief Mickey Boland.
The release was necessary after increased rain in the northern part of the Upstate swelled the Saluda. Water from the river rose past tree trunks at the park near the river’s western bank and threatened to drown picnic shelters.
Ware Shoals police closed the park at about 7:50 a.m., but opened it again around noon after police decided water levels were safe enough, Boland said.
He said he didn’t think people would try to use the river in its current rocky condition. “Pretty much, people around here respect it,” Boland said.
The park was closed due to fears the swelling river would cause banks to collapse, with Ware Shoals residents caught in the middle. Boland said police were notified of the dam release shortly before they closed the park.
A warning siren also sounded to give Ware Shoals residents in and around the river a chance to get to higher ground.
The dam released enough water to cause the river to rise from its normal 10 feet in deep spots to 14 feet, Boland said. A good rainfall always makes the river fluctuate in depth and flow, he said.
Leon Martin of Ware Shoals stopped down by the water Monday afternoon like he does most days and watched the Saluda churn and boil. He said the water can rise often, but that it never does it at any set time.
“There’s no regular schedule,” Martin said.
Pitts Park often sees water licking at its bank during a flood because the river’s eastern bank is a steep incline, while its western bank, which contains the park, is shallow, he said.
Boland said he was surprised to see no one trying to kayak down the recently formed rapids. Kayakers like to ride the river down to Lake Greenwood when the waters are high, Boland said.

Edith Cook

Edith Highsmith Cook, 88, formerly of 234 Reynolds Avenue, widow of Otis S. Cook, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007 at NHC of Laurens.
Born in Ware Shoals, she was a daughter of the late W.A. and Etta Smith Highsmith. She was retired from Nantex and was a patient sitter at Wesley Commons for six years. She was a member of Durst Avenue Church of God, where she was a member of the Florence Hughes Sunday School Class.
Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Jean C. and Rev. Pervie Stines of Cramerton, NC, Leila and Carlton Kellett of Waterloo; a son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Seymour and Jurena Cook of Summerville; a sister, Katie Harter of Ninety Six; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with Bishop Wallace Purvis and the Rev. Ossie Deese officiating. Burial will be in Cross Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bill Davis, Wade Harter, Keith Cook, Gary Moore, Ray Sawyer and Gerald Brown.
Honorary escort will be John Stines, Carl Kellett, Chris Kellett, Mark Kellett and Kyle Kellett.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Durst Avenue Church of God, PO Box 396, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

David Lomax Sr.

ABBEVILLE — David Lomax, Sr., 68, of 1158 Flatwood Road, husband of Helen Ruth Coleman Lomax, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2007 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont. Born on Aug. 15, 1938, he was the son of the late Garnell and Lucy Henry Lomax. For more than 60 years, he was a member of Salem Baptist Church, where he served as a chairman of the deacon board. He also worked for Riegel Mills in Ware Shoals, Haywood Texaco in Greenwood and retired from Sligh and Wilson Appliances in Greenwood. He was also a member of Long Cane Volunteer Fire Department since 1982. Survivors include his wife of the home, three sons, David (Tange’) Lomax, Jr., Kenneth Lomax and Kwaun (Tynetta) Lomax, all of Abbeville; three daughters, Josie (Charlie) Aiken of Greenwood, Sharon (Mike) Kennedy of Laurens and Janet Lomax of Greenwood; one sister, Marie (Billy) Carr of Chicago; one aunt, Emma Line Deal of Greenwood; two cousins, Carrie Aiken of Abbeville and Ella Davis of Greenwood; two adopted children, Dennis and Cathy Byrd, both of Hodges; 19 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Services are 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007 at Salem Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Tony Blackmon. Bishop Emmanuel Spearman will be presiding, and assisting are the Revs. Anthony Boozer, Tommy Stanford, Jerry Brown and Norris Turner. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the home Wednesday evening. Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is in charge. Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Cora Ellea Patterson

PHILADELPHIA — Cora Ellea Patterson, 74, of Philadelphia, widow of Thomas Patterson, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007 in Philadelphia. Born in Greenwood, she was the daughter of late Jack and Margret Evans Moore Carroll. She was a former member of Old Mount Zion Baptist Church in Epworth. Survivors include a daughter, Ander Bennett of Tuscony, AL; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Margret Lee Lomax and Martha Johnson, both of Philadelphia; one sister-in-law, Mattie Carroll of Ninety Six. Services will be 7 p.m. Friday at the home of her sister Martha Johnson, in Philadelphia. Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc.

Flying Fleet defeat Coker, 79-70

January 9, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

DUE WEST — When the team’s leading scorer went down, T.J. Taylor knew someone would have to step up offensively, especially playing against the team leading the nation in 3-point scoring.
Taylor scored 16 of his game-high 30 points after senior Craig Williams walked off the court clutching his left arm to lead the Erskine College men’s basketball team to a 79-70 win over Coker Monday night at Belk Arena, ending a three-game losing streak.
“When Craig went down, I knew we were going to have scoring problems so somebody had to step up,” said Taylor, who was 9-of-16 from the field. “I really wanted the ball in my hands tonight. This was a big win for us. This was a conference game and it’s always big to win in conference.”
Williams, whose 20.7 points a game is second in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference, was driving in for a dunk on a fastbreak with 14 minutes remaining and collided with a Coker player. Erskine’s 6-foot-7 senior, who finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, fell hard on his left arm in obvious pain.
The Cobras (3-7 overall, 0-4 CVAC) turned the accident into a fastbreak, as Ryan Fulwood dropped in a layup while being fouled. Fulwood, who finished with 12 points, completed the three-point play to cut Erskine’s lead down to two, 44-42, with 13:47 remaining.
That’s when Taylor, with key supporting help from freshman Brandon Wright, went to work.
Taylor and Wright combined to score 30 of the Fleet’s final 35 points, including a stretch of 16-straight points for Erskine (5-5, 2-3).
Wright finished with 22 points, including 13 after Williams’ injury. Erskine coach Mark Peeler said Williams’ arm was broken on the fall and he might be done for the season.
“It’s going to be hard without him,” Peeler said. “We’ll have to change what we do. But we do have some really good young players.”
The Fleet withstood the aerial display put on by the Cobras, who lead the NCAA Division II in 3-pointers made. One way they did it was to add some long-range shooting of their own.
Erskine connected on 11 of its 19 3-point shots, including a perfect 3-for-3 from senior Drew Wallace, who came off the bench to score 11 points. Erskine was 6-of-7 from long range in the second half, where the team shot 65 percent from the field.
Ben Brim came off the bench to lead the Cobras with 16 points, going 5-for-9 on 3-pointers.

Observations ...
... and other reflections

January 9, 2007

It’s been said the only things certain are death and taxes. There hasn’t been anything much to challenge that truism ..... until now. These days the only things certain are death and taxes ..... and increases in the price of gasoline when holidays approach.

* * * * *

Iran keeps thumbing its nose at the United States, the United Nations and anyone else that expresses concerns about that radical nation’s nuclear program.
It follows that every time something is said and Iran tells the world where to go, this country, the U. N. and others warn Iran “there will be consequences.” Then nothing’s done. Every time.
If Iran knows there will never be reprisals, why would it care what the world says? Once again it proves that actions speak but sometimes words never do.

* * * * *

The biggest “red herring” experience in South Carolina where public education is concerned has worked time after time. It seems that every time there’s a suggestion to try something new to improve education, the first thing opponents do is to mount a campaign that seeks to convince everyone that the suggestion would or is intended to “destroy” public education.
If we can’t consider reasonable suggestions and put them up for honest debate, will desired improvements ever come? Just because somebody wants change doesn’t mean it’s meant to destroy. That’s the message that works, though, and defenders of the status quo aren’t about to do anything differently.
And therein lies one of our problems, isn’t it!

* * * * *

There are a lot of good friends at the Humane Society of Greenwood shelter. There are two-legged friends, to be sure, who give so much of themselves for the four-legged variety, but it’s the four-legged ones that can make a difference in a lot of lives. All they need is for someone to adopt them.
For more than a 100 years studies have shown that dogs and cats, for example, can have a beneficial effect on human companions. The Centers for Disease Control says interaction with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They also can reduce feelings of loneliness and depression that loneliness can bring.
Give a cat or dog a new life. It could make you live longer.