CEO ready for growth

Jay West takes post Aug. 7

July 21, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer


New Partnership Alliance CEO Jay West said he was told by the agency’s board during the interview process that it has a vision of Greenwood being named the best place in America to live.
Though that goal might sound lofty to some, it doesn’t even cause West to blink an eye.
West, who will officially begin work as Partnership CEO on Aug. 7, has been busy preparing his office and making the necessary contacts for his new position. He will be taking over for John Lowery, who has been serving as interim CEO since Jeff Fowler resigned this spring.
West, 42, is a graduate of Wade Hampton High School and Erskine College.
He has a multi-layered background in business and administration. He has, among other ventures, worked for State Farm Insurance, been the vice president for institutional relations at Erskine and owned two companies — a consulting company for economic development and a marketing and consulting firm that helped schools with referendums and other such business.
He also said he has many ties within the South Carolina state delegation, both in the House and Senate.
He said he is ecstatic to have the opportunity to head up Greenwood’s economic development catalyst.
“I am thrilled and there are a lot of reasons for that,” West said. “My wife and family and I moved to Greenwood four years ago, because we wanted to live in Greenwood. I had an opportunity to move to another major city in the South and take over some companies that were merging. My family struggled because nobody wanted to leave Greenwood.
“But when this came available, some folks in the community came forward and encouraged me to go for it. Senator (John) Drummond was very supportive. He thought it would be a good thing for me and for Greenwood if it worked out.”
West said the opportunity to help a new generation of leaders in Greenwood appealed to him, and he added he has been further encouraged by the local school system, saying rising test scores and a wave of new facilities will continue to make Greenwood an attractive destination for potential industrial and retail outlets.
West, who has three sons (Jack, Brice and Gray) with wife Jennifer, said he thinks Greenwood’s location will continue to be a benefit in economic development, with four-lane roads now connecting the Emerald City to Greenville, Columbia and Athens, Ga.
“I think Greenwood’s location is going to become a very big plus,” West said. “We have widened Highway 72 from Clinton all the way to the Georgia line. Now Georgia is in the process of widening it through Elberton. That creates what I call the 72-25 Corridor. We are sitting right in the middle of this.
“One of the opportunities that we have on the immediate horizon would be for us to look at the major suppliers for the existing industry, from Greenville to Columbia to Athens, that have a major investment in this area. I can’t think of a better place to live.
“The 25-72 Corridor is a major, major point for us now that (Highway 25) has been widened. Those that had that on the books 10 years ago or before it was completed were very smart and understood what it was going to do to this area.”
Greenwood County Councilman Gonza Bryant, who chairs the council’s economic development committee, said he thinks West was the right choice for the job.
“We are very pleased to have him as the new CEO,” Bryant said. “He has a very pleasant attitude and I think he will be a dynamic force in bringing new jobs and development into the county.
“I think his local ties will help our opportunities in Greenwood, and his state-level ties in government will also bring some diverse interests to the area. I think Partnership got the right guy.”

Man charged in multiple molestation cases

Other victims urged to come forward

July 21, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

LAURENS — The six victims already identified are enough.
No one wants to think there are more names out there.
But Laurens Police Chief Robin E. Morse and Laurens County Sheriff Ricky Chastain have worked in law enforcement for a long time and seen these types of cases play out many times before. They know better.
Willie Alfred Ray, 31, of 1232 Rabon Road in Laurens — a man also known as “Spanky” — has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual misconduct (victim’s age under 11), sexual assault with intent to commit criminal sexual misconduct and a lewd act upon a child.
Three of the six incidents occurred inside the Laurens city limits. Two others two took place in Laurens County.
These are the instances police know about.
According to law enforcement, these new charges follow on the heels of Ray having been charged with one count of criminal sexual misconduct in Greenville. Ray was reportedly out on bond when he was arrested by Laurens city police officers earlier this month.
Morse and Chastain say it’s likely there are more names and faces among the masses. Just how many more remains the question.
A news conference took place Friday morning at city police headquarters during which authorities asked the public for help with the answer — or answers.
They want any victims — anywhere — to come forward.
“We’re looking for the public’s help in this case,” Morse told a conference room full of reporters. “We’re asking if there are any more victims that they come forward now and contact us.”
The victims who have already been identified in the case are both male and female, and range in age from between 5 and 6 to 13.
“We’re just asking for help from anyone who might have come in contact with this person,” Chastain said. “There may be others (victims) out there. Hopefully we’ll be able to find these victims if they are out there.”
Ray was arrested July 6 at a Laurens apartment after his girlfriend was reported to have walked in on him having inappropriate contact with her 11-year-old son.
The woman then contacted the authorities.
Officers interviewed the victim and learned there were other possible victims. During the investigation, three other victims emerged, some claiming incidents that occurred as far back as 1999.
One of the victims is now a college student in Pennsylvania.
She was 13 at the time of the alleged 2002 incident.
The victims who have come forward are either children of Ray’s former girlfriends — of which police say there have been many — or members at Evidence of Faith Church, located in Clinton, where Ray has been known to attend services. Laurens police served Ray with another warrant on an additional charge of criminal sexual misconduct — involving one of the victims already identified — Friday afternoon.
Chastain said some incidents could have occurred as early as 1995.
Morse said he was told by Greenville authorities that Ray had no known criminal record before the alleged incident involving the minor in Greenville.
Anyone with information may contact the Laurens Police Department at 984-3532 or Laurens County Sheriff’s Office at 984-4967.

Police say man tried to run over victim

July 21, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A Greenwood man has been arrested after officers say he tried to run over another man with his car just after midnight Friday Greenwood police arrested Erric Lamar Richey aka “Stank,” 34, of 608 Milwee Ave., Greenwood, and charged him with assault and battery with intent to kill and driving under suspension.
According to police incident reports, officers responded to a Taggart Avenue location, where the victim reportedly told them “Stank” had tried to run him over. He told officers Richey was driving a four-door Toyota with no hood.
The victim said he and Richey were on Russell Street when they got into an argument that almost turned into a physical fight. Saying he thought Richey was “not right in the head,” the victim told officers he left Russell Street and headed over to Taggart Avenue.
However, the victim said Richey soon showed up on Taggart in his car. The victim said Richey hopped out of the car holding a tire iron and threatened him.
The victim told police he ran into the carport at a Taggart residence and looked for something to defend himself with. He said Richey then began to back away in his car.
The victim said he came out of the carport and headed toward the sidewalk.
He said he heard tires screeching and saw Richey barreling toward him in the Toyota, jumping the curb and the sidewalk and flying across the yard of the Taggart Avenue home.
The victim said he ran up the home’s wheelchair ramp and Richey slammed his car into the corner of the ramp, before turning and heading off toward New Market Street.
Officers noted fresh skid marks on the yard on Taggart, as well as tire marks in the yard and on the wheelchair ramp. They also gathered pieces of a grill that had broken off a car, as well as a Toyota emblem from a grill. The handrail on the wheelchair ramp was damaged.
Two witnesses corroborated the victim’s story.
Officers then went to Richey’s house on Milwee Avenue. There they saw the Toyota with no hood and noted the grill was busted. The engine was still hot.
When officers spoke with Richey, he said he had gotten into an argument with the victim but had not attempted to harm him. When officers asked him how his car’s grill had been busted, Richey reportedly offered no reply.
Richey allegedly admitted to driving the vehicle but said he did not intend to run over the victim. He said the brakes on the car had failed, which is how he ended up in the yard.
Before leaving Richey’s house, officer Travis Anderson reportedly got in Richey’s car and pumped the brakes several times. He said there seemed to be ample pressure in the brakes, enough to make him think the brakes were working properly.

Minor: Bats must come alive

July 21, 2007

By MATT ANDERSON
Index-Journal sports writer

Typically in baseball, it’s a simple correlation: A large number of runs scored equals a quality offensive performance.
But to hear Greenwood Post 20 coach Billy Dean Minor tell it, his team’s 48 run output in its 3-1 series victory over Chester in the first round of American Legion playoffs left room for improvement.
Though Post 20 scored 48 runs, the team batting average for the series was .241, and Greenwood recorded just 26 RBIs.
“We’re going to practice (today) and get into the cage on Sunday,” Minor said. “Hitting comes and goes, and we’re going to work on getting better at the plate.”
Post 20’s first-round offensive performance starts to look better when factoring in the team’s collective patience at the plate. Greenwood drew 23 walks in the four game series, and was hit by 11 pitches, good for a series on-base percentage of .395. That would seem to indicate the team followed Minor’s directive.
“We have to watch the pitcher,” Minor said. “If he’s throwing curveballs in the dirt early in the counts, we have to take them. If he’s throwing first-pitch fastballs, we have to go up there and be aggressive. It all depends on who’s pitching.”
For Greenwood on the mound, it mattered little who was pitching against Chester, as most everyone who took the hill turned in quality innings.
Only two Greenwood starters failed to pitch into the seventh inning in the series: Justin Collier, who threw five scoreless frames in Tuesday night’s Game 2 victory, and Cruse Tollison, who was removed after three innings when he injured his knee in Game 4. His status is still up in the air for the Monday’s second round opener.
The Post 20 bullpen was equally as strong in the first round series. Drew Willingham posted 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings, and Christian Powell picked up the win in relief of Tollison in Game 4, allowing one earned run on five hits and striking out seven in six innings.
“Everyone pitched well,” Minor said. “I feel that strong pitching set the tone, to a point.”
Minor said he will likely look to South Carolina-bound lefthander Brandon Miller to start Monday night’s round two opener. Miller, who won Game 1 against Chester, is 5-1 on the season with a 2.74 ERA. He has struck out 52 and walked 19 in 46 innings pitched.
Greenwood will face the winner of the Richland-Union series in a best-of-five series. Entering play Friday night, Richland led Union two-games-to-one.

Obituaries

William E. Alverson, MD

GREER — William E. Alverson, M.D., of 111 Ascot Drive, died July 20, 2007, at age 72. A lifelong resident of Greer, he was the son of Dr. R.C. and Mrs. Ida Lee Alverson. After completing Greer High School (a member of the class of 1952, the last class to graduate in the old Davenport High School building), he completed his undergraduate studies with an A.B. from Emory University in 1956. He attended the Medical University of S.C. in Charleston, graduating with his M.D. degree in 1960. After completing a rotating internship at Spartanburg General Hospital, he entered the general practice of medicine with “Dr. R.C.,” and was on the staff of Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital. They practiced together until Dr. R.C.’s retirement. Dr. Bill closed his general practice in 1999, as did his colleague, Dr. Douglas Owens; they shared a coverage agreement for over 25 years, serving a number of local industries as plant physicians, and as team physicians for Greer High. At the time of his complete retirement October 1, 2005, Dr. Bill had served as the full-time Medical Director and Attending Physician for the Roger Huntington Nursing Center in Greer. He was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Medical Directors Association.
He was active in Scouting and YMCA camping in his youth, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, and teaching aquatics at a number of summer camp sessions. He was a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Greer. While a member of the Kiwanis, he held various offices in the local club, and was chosen Lt. Governor of the then 9th Division of the Carolinas for 1968. He spent a number of years in the SCARNG, attaining the rank of Major in the Medical Corps. His passion and hobby for most of his lifetime was model railroading and trains; he was a member of the National Model Railroad Association and was recently the “Superintendent” of the Palmetto Division of the Southeastern Region of the NMRA. He was a member of “The Upper SC Operators Group”, an informal “club” of friends with similar interests in model railroading.
Dr. Bill is survived by Ann, his wife of 46 years; a daughter, Bonne’ Lethco and her husband, Keith; two grandchildren, AnnaLee, and Melissa Lethco of Greenwood, SC; and a son, Leslie, of the home.
Dr. Bill was predeceased by a cousin, Virginia “Ginny” Lindsay, who was raised in the Alverson home whom he described by more as “the sister I never had.”
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Greer, conducted by Rev. Wayne Cole, Rev. James Crocker and Rev. J.N. McFadden.
Burial will follow in Mountain View cemetery.
Active pallbearers are Marshall “Pot” Lindsay, Mike Lindsay, Jack Varadi, Bert Garrison, Paul Brown and Chris Lindsay.
Honorary escort will be Paula Brown and family, Wilma Cagle, Evelyn Owens, John Holland, Staff and former Staff of Roger Hunting Nursing Center, the members of the Upper SC Operators Group, and the Doctors Joe Wentzsky, Travis Ellison, Tommy Eison, Van Grubbs, Vic Campbell, Lee Smyre, Jim Key, John Walton, Bill Helton, T.O. Walker, Nell Dobson, B.J. Tucker, Kaye Garrison and Kathy Johnson.
Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Wood Mortuary.
Dr. Bill respectfully requested that flowers be omitted, and such funds as might be used for them be used for memorials to Greer Community Ministries, PO Box 1373, Greer, SC 29652 or First Presbyterian Church of Greer, 100 School Street, Greer, SC 29651. The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com.

Earnest ‘Bay’ Wright

TROY — Earnest “Bay” Wright, 63, of 1420 Neel Street, husband of Mammie Nelson Wright, died Thursday, July 19, 2007 at The Hospice House of Piedmont. Born in Troy, he was the son of the late James Edgar and the late Annie Pearl Traylor. He was a member of Holy Springs Baptist Church in McCormick, where he was a Deacon. He was employed with Mauldin Lumber Company.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Earnest Keith Wright of Greenwood; three brothers, Willie Mack Wright of Greenwood, Cecil Wright of McCormick and Charles Edger Wright of Detroit; three sisters, Dorothy Mae Childs of Troy, Annie Ruth Murcier of Troy and Cornelia Butler of Greenwood; a mother-in-law, Bessie Lee Nelson of Greenwood; a special nephew, Ricky Chiles of McCormick; and one grandchild, Kishawn Wright.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday, July 23, 2007 at Holy Springs Baptist Church in McCormick, conducted by Rev. Norris Turner. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Viewing is for the immediate family only. The family is at the home. Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com. Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., is in charge of arrangements.

Opinion

Sallie Goldman lived faith as faith should be lived

July 21, 2007

In an era when counterfeit character and phony philosophies define so much in the contentious atmosphere we live in, Sallie Goldman was the proverbial breath of fresh air. With her, what you saw was what you got.
As a Baptist and a Republican, Mrs. Goldman, who died last week at age 79, was never reluctant to stand up for her beliefs. Indeed, the principles she lived by, in both faith and politics, were characteristic of everything she did.
She was known for her compassion and willingness to reach out with a helping hand to those in need, whether in her church - Rice Memorial Baptist - or somewhere else. If someone was in need, she was there. If the church needed something done, she was there. It may sound trite to some, but Sallie Goldman lived her faith as faith should be lived.

HER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS were never about public office or public praise.
What this unassuming lady accomplished told her story. It was all about building a strong and viable Greenwood Republican Party. That was at a time when the two-party system was just getting a foothold in the Palmetto State, so her work, and the work of her colleagues, gave everyone here a stronger voice in government at all levels.
Mrs. Goldman was one of the founding members of the Republican Women’s organization of Greenwood, helping build a base for and working to maintain a strong Republican presence. She was always a hard worker, too, not just in name only. Results of her efforts are visible today in every political campaign and election.

SHE WAS TRUE TO HER OWN beliefs, without doubt, but she was not one to resent others who had differing opinions and/or politics. The term “loyal opposition” could well have been a description of her political role. All citizens, Democrat and Republican alike, benefit from the work she did to get people involved in political affairs that influenced all lives.
She was a good Christian, friend, assistant, helper, supporter, defender, facilitator, confidante, and much more. Sallie Elizabeth Hawkins Goldman was all of those, and it was never more evident than in her relationship with the late E. L. Caldecotts..... in fact, all she knew. When all those things are combined in one person, who could have asked for more?