No solid answers on park

Meeting about Grace St. site draws large, passionate crowd

July 25, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

The elected officials argued on some points. They agreed on others. The crowd cheered, groaned, booed and whispered barbed comments under its collective breath.
The scene went on for almost two hours.
And in the end, the fate of the land at the corner of Grace Street and the Highway 72 Bypass remained unchanged.
Greenwood City Council, Greenwood County Council and the Commissioners of Public Works had a joint public meeting Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was slated to be in room 200 of the County Courthouse.
However, local residents quickly smothered that idea. Hundreds of residents poured into the tiny room, filling the room and spilling out into the hallway.
County Council Chairman Robbie Templeton, who would eventually moderate the meeting, asked everyone to move over to the city courtroom in the municipal building. The seats in that room were then filled to capacity, with numerous residents utilizing standing room in the back.
Two proposals were made during the meeting that were major departures from the rhetoric that has been heard over the last two weeks as it related to a proposed public park on the Grace Street land.
For seven years, negotiations have taken place that would have seen CPW deed about 50 acres of land on Grace Street to the city. Under recent talks, CPW was set to deed the land to the city, which would in turn deed it to the county.
Two weeks ago, however, CPW voted to consider selling the land (Chairman Henry Watts and Gen Hancock voted to sell; Mike Monaghan voted against selling), seemingly bringing an end to the long negotiations ­— until Tuesday’s meeting was called. One of Tuesday’s departures was county council’s insistence it was willing to accept full responsibility for the park and all the liability and maintenance for it. Councilwoman Edith Childs made a motion stating such, and it was seconded by Councilman Gonza Bryant.
Under the county’s proposal, there would be no reversion clause, meaning the land would not be deeded back to CPW at the county’s whim, nor would the county be under the restriction of a timetable to get the park completed.
Liability and the county’s right to deed the property back to CPW at any time had been major sticking points in the negotiations.
However, after council voted unanimously to accept the land under those terms, CPW did not move to reconsider the issue. Watts maintained his stance on selling the land.
“We just can’t give that much,” Watts said after the meeting. “We’ve borrowed 10 million bucks. Someone has to pay that. The best way is to sell this property to pay that, or else we’re going to have an increase.”
During the meeting, Watts was roundly booed by the crowd when he made a firm statement that he would not reconsider his position.
Meanwhile, Monaghan maintained his stance of not selling the land. Hancock was non-committal, saying there were legal issues he wanted to see worked out before he would vote to reconsider.
Hancock said he was concerned with the legality of giving away that much land without any compensation. He suggested that a land swap with the county might be in order.
Templeton appeared frustrated after the meeting.
“From the county’s perspective, we thought we took away all the hurdles by answering the question of indemnity,” Templeton said. “From the county’s perspective, I think we have done all we can do. The city has agreed to pass it through to us. At this point it falls on CPW.”
CPW came to the meeting with a proposal of its own.
Watts proposed a compromise in which CPW would issue a quitclaim deed to the city for the purposes of a park. Under that proposal, the city would get 27 acres for a park, while CPW would maintain 27 acres for commercial and residential development.
CPW representative Steve Reeves circulated blueprints with an artists’ rendering — done in 2000 — that was an example of what could be done with the Grace Street property under Watts’ proposal.
However, many residents in the room apparently didn’t take too kindly to the blueprints, even though the rendering was simply an example.
“Here’s what we think of this proposal,” said one resident, who stood, raised the blueprint and shredded it in half.
All around the room, residents began to shred their blueprint examples and toss them in the air, the pieces raining to the floor.
City attorney Stephen Welch quickly stood and admonished the residents, saying authorities would charge them with littering if they didn’t stop.
Though no action was taken on the land, Monaghan said after the meeting he thought some ground was gained.
“I think it’s great progress that the county has said they would accept the property and own the property and maintain the property,” Monaghan said. “I think that is a great step forward. I think the public interest turned the county’s stance around as far as accepting the property.
“Now all we have to do is convince the other two commissioners to reconsider.”
Though he did not move to reconsider Tuesday, Hancock offered a glimmer of hope that a park might still happen.
“What we did is brought things to a head, which is good,” Hancock said after the meeting. “Regardless of what everyone wants, most governments negotiate settlements. Look, there’s going to be a park there. Henry (Watts) said there’s going to be a park, I said there’s going to be one, Mike (Monaghan) says there’s going to be a park there.
“It might not be as big as they say. There could be some development there. But it could be a win-win situation with our proposal, too.”

Abduction reports are false alarms

July 25, 2007

From staff reports

A reported abduction Monday in Greenwood was a hoax, authorities said Tuesday.
Greenwood County Sheriff Dan Wideman said the Amber Alert activation in the reported abduction of Beatriz Duarte and her 1-year-old infant from the Kmart Plaza was rescinded by GCSO investigators at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The announcement came after an exhaustive 24-hour investigation found no abduction had occurred.
“Our investigators did a phenomenal job of locating all three individuals,” Wideman said. “They are in Kingston, Tenn., where the Roane County Sheriff’s Office is assisting us by interviewing both Duarte and (her estranged boyfriend, Oscar Valencia) Mendosa.”
Wideman added that GCSO also received invaluable assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, SLED, U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.
Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said more than a dozen uniformed deputies and investigators worked without stopping for 24 hours to close the case.
Frederick said deputies canvassed the reported abduction area, found witnesses and searched for additional surveillance systems, while investigators coordinated Amber Alert activities and performed liaison duties with agencies across the Southeast.
“Our investigators closed this case the old-fashioned way,” Frederick said. “They stayed at it all night and tracked these three down.”
Frederick said GCSO investigators used Mendosa’s family members across the country, cell phone technology and investigative liaisons with more than 30 organizations to fine Duarte in Tennessee. The investigation revealed Duarte left with Mendosa voluntarily, and at no time was subjected to any force or duress.
Frederick said Duarte’s departure with Mendosa, without adequately explaining her intent to her family, created the appearance of an abduction.
“Our investigation has proven conclusively that Duarte left Greenwood County with Mendosa on her own accord,” he said. “But her unwillingness to advise her family as to her intent led them to believe that she had been abducted.”
Though Duarte’s lack of judgment created 24 hours of unnecessary work by law enforcement, she will not likely be charged because of a lack of criminal intent.
“Although this investigation revealed that no abduction took place, no Amber Alert is ever a futile exercise,” Wideman said. “They represent a critical tool to determine not only the whereabouts of suspects, but the nature of the incident.”
Wideman said the system worked exactly as it should have.
“We’re just happy that everyone is all right,” he said.

1 person in custody; no one hit by shots

July 25, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

A suspect was taken in custody Tuesday afternoon following a shooting near the intersection of Taggart and Milwee avenues in Greenwood, authorities said.
The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m.
“We do have one person in custody,” Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks said. “A shooting did occur, and to the best of our knowledge no one was hit by the bullets.”
Lt. Chris Gray said Jamaica Price was arrested for a failure to stop on law of command. Price, who is thought to be connected with the shooting, did not stop on Palmetto Court and continued on toward Taggart Avenue.
The investigation is ongoing.

Ervin captures USGA Amateur qualifier

July 25, 2007

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

NINETY SIX — The odd years have been good for Tanner Ervin, who qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2001, 2003 and 2005.
The Clemson University senior added another to that list Tuesday when he won the 2007 USGA Amateur Qualifier at The Patriot Club at Grand Harbor.
Ervin, of Mt. Pleasant, said he had no particular reason for the success in the off years. Rather, he was right on the spot in discussing this year’s event that qualifies him for the Aug. 20-26 U.S. Amateur Championship in San Francisco.
“I was 3 under today and finished 10 under for the tournament,” Ervin said. “Making putts (Monday) was the big difference.
“I eagled both par 5s on the front and shot 5 under. (Tuesday), I played them 1 under on the front.”
Ervin posted a 65 Monday and went into the final round with a one-shot lead over Ben Martin, of Greenwood, and three shots over David Dannelly, of Easley.
While Ervin continued to play well, Martin and Dannelly ran into some problems.
“I never got anything going today,” Martin said of his final 18 holes. He made the turn at 5 under, but quickly ran into trouble at No. 11, where his drive went out of bounds.
Still, he thought he had a chance to at least make a playoff, since four spots and two alternates were available.
“All I had to do was shoot even par from there on in, but I didn’t. I made only one birdie all day, while I made seven Monday. I hit one bad drive at 11, but never got anything solid going all day.”
The downhill slide really began, he said, at No. 3 where he hit a wedge from the middle of the fairway and made double bogey.
Even though he made birdie on the next hole, his game never materialized in the same manner it was in the first round, and he missed a possible playoff spot by two shots.
Baker Elmore, of Cheraw, Kyle Dickey, of Summerville, and Crawford Reeves, of Greenville, after shooting 141, went to a playoff for the final two of four spots to the big tournament.
Reeves missed, but earned an alternate slot with Chris Mitchell, of Columbia, who shot 142.
In earning his fourth trip to the national event, Ervin said, “I played well and made only one bogey (Tuesday) — I tried to hit a driver over the bunker at 10 and kind of fanned it and hit in it.”
A big key for Ervin, he said, was the ability to hit the fairways off the tee.
Besides Martin, Thomas Todd, of Laurens, was the only other local player to make the cut for the final two rounds. However, he shot three shots worse (75) than his first day (72) and finished 13 shots off the pace.
Other local players who played, but missed the cut were Cooper Tinsley, of Greenwood, who shot 75; Patrick Wilson, of Greenwood, 75; and Sam Vautier, of Greenwood, 75.

Obituaries

Betty Carver

ABBEVILLE — Betty Campbell Carver, 76, widow of Carroll Edward Carver, died July 24, 2007 at the Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Abbeville County, Aug. 24, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Knox and Elizabeth Simpson Campbell. She was retired from Sportswear Unlimited in Antreville and was a member of Bell’s United Methodist Church.
Surviving are four sisters, Francine C. Thompson and Bonnie C. Busby, both of Abbeville; Annie Louise C. Jennings of Decatur, AL, and Alice C. Taylor of Lexington; two stepdaughters; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday at Bell’s United Methodist Church, with Rev. Mike Written and Dr. Ray Simpson officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be nephews.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home in Greenwood and will be placed in the church at 1:30 Thursday afternoon.
The family is at the home of George and Bonnie Busby, 945 Hwy. 72 W. and will receive friends at the church from 1:30 to 3 Thursday afternoon.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to Shriner’s Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Carver family.

Clifford Cunningham

Clifford Cunningham died Tuesday, July 24, 2007, at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
The family is at the home of his wife, Mary Cunningham, 311 McKellar Drive.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Ceree Lee Jr.

HODGES — Ceree Lee, Jr., 71, of 1515 Shirley Road, Hodges, SC, husband of Priscilla Covington Lee, died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC.
He was born in Anderson County to the late Ceree Lee, Sr. and Claudine Belcher Lee.
He was a graduate of Abbeville County School System. He was a self-employed painter and a veteran of the United States Air Force.
He was a member of Mountain Spring Baptist Church in Pendleton, SC.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Ethel McCier of Abbeville, SC, and Cora McCuary of Augusta, GA; three brothers, Larkin L. Lee of Calhoun Falls, SC, Michael B. Lee of Buffalo, NY, and Timothy R. Lee of Cincinnati, OH; five sisters, Katie Lee and Marva J. Brown of Washington, DC, Sarah Randolph of Buffalo, NY, Ethel R. Lee of Calhoun Falls, SC, and Elsie Thomas of Columbia, SC; one aunt, Florine Belcher of Augusta, GA; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; six stepchildren; 25 step-grandchildren; and thirteen step-great-grandchildren.
Services with military honors will be Thursday, July 26, 2007 at the Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. chapel at 100 Whitehall Street, Abbeville, SC, at 2 p.m., with Rev. Alfred Watts officiating and Rev. Bernard White, Rev. James H. Kay, and Rev. Johnnie Waller assisting. Burial is private.
Viewing will be Wednesday, July 25, 2007 from 1-8 p.m. and family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m.
The family is at the home and at the home of his daughter, Ethel McCier, 1488 Hwy. 28 South, Abbeville, SC.
Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

John Andrew McAllister

MOUNT CARMEL — John Andrew McAllister, 78, the only child of the late Elizabeth Jones and Darrell McAllister of Mt. Carmel, died peacefully at the Abbeville Area Medical Center, July 23, 2007. Born on Dec. 25, 1928, he lived most of his life in Mt. Carmel, retiring in 2005 to the Due West Retirement Center.
He attended Calhoun Falls public schools and graduated from Calhoun Falls High School in 1945 with perfect attendance all 12 years. He entered Clemson University after graduation, but left shortly after his freshman year when his father died, and he returned home to help his mother operate the family business that was established in 1888 by his grandfather, John A. McAllister. The business grew to include a retail furniture store, cattle and timber farm with numerous real estate holdings.
Through his public service, devotion to conservation and economic development in rural communities, he distinguished himself in numerous industries. He was the Mayor of Mt. Carmel for more than 30 years. Most notably, he was a founder of the West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative in 1952 where he served as president for almost 54 years. Upon his retirement in 2006, he was elected “President Emeritus”. He served many leadership roles in this industry including the Board of National Telephone Cooperative Association and was awarded NTCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2001. He was also named a charter member of the USDA Rural Telephone Bank Board in 1971 and continued serving for more than 35 years.
He served as the Chairman of the Savannah Valley Authority, which spearheaded the development of Savannah Lakes Village. He also served as Chairman of the Upper Savannah Council of Governments. His outstanding work earned him the first SC Economic Development Association’s Lifetime Service Award in 1989, and in 1992 the National Association of Development Organizations named him the Outstanding Board Member. The Old Ninety-Six Tourism Commission honored him for his accomplishments in economic development in the Piedmont area.
Mr. McAllister was a member of the South Carolina Forestry Commission. His lifelong commitment as a steward of the land earned him the State Conservationist of the Year Award, the Tree Farmer of the Year in South Carolina, the SC Forestry Association’s 1996 Charles H. Flory Distinguished Service Award and a 35-year pin of service from the McCormick County Soil and Water Conservation District. He was also recognized numerous times by SC Wildlife Federation and SC Land Resources Commission, and served on the RC&D Council.
He served as Chairman of the John de la Howe School Board of Trustees, member of the McCormick County Arts Council and the MACK Foundation. He also served on the Board of Trustees at Erskine College, Board of Visitors and National Alumni Council at Clemson University, and Parents Council at Converse College. He is Director Emeritus for Piedmont Technical College Foundation and was awarded the Presidential Medallion for Distinguished Service. He was also on the Drummond Center Board of Directors.
In 1986, Gov. Richard Riley awarded him the Order of Palmetto, the highest service award given to a private citizen in South Carolina. He was bestowed with an honorary degree Doctor of Humanities from Erskine College in 1989 and an honorary degree Doctor of Laws from Clemson University in 1990.
Based on his lifelong support of the Boy Scouts of America, he was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, the highest volunteer citation given by Scouting. He was instrumental in the organization of the Willington-Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member of the Calhoun Falls Lions Club, a lifetime member of Calhoun Falls Masonic Lodge No. 283, and a charter member to the Mt. Carmel Yacht Club. He served as an elder of the Abbeville-Mt. Carmel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant sons: James Jones McAllister and Darrell Wesley McAllister.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Catherine Mae Harter McAllister, formerly of Ninety Six; son John A. McAllister Jr. and wife, Carolyn C. Matthews of Columbia; son T. Edwin McAllister and partner, Paul Meyer of Washington, DC; daughter Cathy M. Watson and husband, J. Calhoun Watson of Columbia; son Westley D. McAllister and wife, Angel F. McAllister of Mt. Carmel; and daughter Mary S. McAllister of Columbia. He leaves behind grandchildren: Anne Leigh and Sarah Elizabeth McAllister of Shelbyville, Ky., Catherine Tatum Watson, Joseph Calhoun “Jay” Watson, Jr., Elizabeth Kirkland “Bess” Watson of Columbia, Thomas Edwin McAllister of Anderson, Charles Jacob “Jake” McAllister of Mt. Carmel and Austin A. Bruner and husband, Collin Bruner of Charleston.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 2 from the Due West A.R.P. Church, Due West, SC, with the Dr. Rev. Randle T. Ruble and the Rev. Lee P. Kennerly officiating. The burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hwy. 81, Mt. Carmel, SC.
Mr. McAllister’s body is at the Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, 208 South Main St., Abbeville, SC, where he will be available for viewing from noon until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening.
The family will receive friends at the Bowie Art Center, 2 Bonner Street, Due West, from 5 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2007.
The family is at the home of Ed McAllister, Main St., Mt. Carmel, SC.
Pallbearers are Ernie Segars of Laurens, Dave Herron and Mack Beaty of Abbeville, John Shiflet of York, Mike Copeland of Columbia, Moses Gray and Mike Fowler of Mt. Carmel, and Jennings McAbee of McCormick. Honorary Pallbearers are Board of Directors and employees of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: Foundation for Rural Service, 4121 Wilson Blvd., Tenth Floor, Arlington, VA 22203-1801; Due West Retirement Center Building Fund, P.O. Box, 307, Due West, SC, 29639 and Erskine College Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 608, Due West, SC 29639.
Online condolences maybe sent to the McAllister family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC, is in charge of arrangements.

Carroll Skinner

HONEA PATH — Marvin Carroll Skinner, 78, of 201 Brook St., died Monday, July 23, 2007 at AnMed Health Medical Center.
Born in Ware Shoals, he was a son of the late Thomas Marvin and Elizabeth Page Skinner. He was a retired pharmacist, a member of the Honea Path First Baptist Church and a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, Korean Conflict. He was a member of the Honea Path Lions Club and the Ware Shoals Masonic Lodge No. 306 A.F.M.
Surviving are two daughters, Sandra Hewitt and husband, Roy E. of Wake Forest, N.C., and Jeanine Skinner of Wake Forest, N.C.; one brother, Joseph F. Skinner of Ware Shoals; two sisters, Mrs. George (Ruby) Hardy of Liberty and Mrs. Larry (Jane) Corley of Johnston; and two grandchildren, Ryan and Catherine Hewitt, both of Wake Forest, N.C.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Honea Path First Baptist Church, with Rev. Mike Moody and Rev. Boyd King officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until Noon Wednesday at Pruitt Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The family is at the home.

Eva Mae Taylor

PIEDMONT — Eva Mae Taylor, 54, of 402 Rose Lee Drive, died Friday, July 20, 2007, at Greenville Hospital.
The family is at the home of her sister Barbara Mathis, 205 Annette Way, Greenwood.
Daniel & Sons Funeral Home, Ninety Six, is in charge.

Child’s loss leaves void mere words will not fill

July 25, 2007

When a parent loses a child, no words can ease the pain. Neither can they explain why a child was taken, even though all around we each offer condolences as best we can.
Words are always spoken with the best intentions and sometimes they may offer a degree of solace. Still, they cannot replace what was lost ..... a smile, a hug, a tender moment in time, or the extraordinary love that flows between a parent and child.
A father and son, a mother and daughter ..... the bond they share is like no other. When the ties that bind are severed and a child is gone, only those who have known similar circumstances can know the pain that is so overwhelming ..... the utter grief that traumatizes every fiber of their being.

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES unexpectedly, as it did when a terrible highway crash took the life of a young Greenwood man last Saturday, there are always unanswered questions. Why did 18-year-old Drake Anderson die? Why did it happen? Why him? Why did someone so young leave this world much too soon, someone with so much left to live for?
There are many questions, to be sure, but there’s always the unknown that haunts every heart, every mind ..... every soul: What might have been.
Why does death take one life and not another. That, too, is likely to weigh on the minds of some of us. That, whether we believe or not, is beyond the capacity of mere humans to understand. The fault, for lack of a better word, lies with no one. It could happen to any of us at any time.
Maybe the angels grew lonely and needed a little reassurance. We may never know. One thing’s for sure. God knows, and His will opens windows that we cannot even imagine. We may not understand at the moment. We may not want to understand.

HUMANS CANNOT PLUMB the depths of the Almighty’s reasoning. It’s simply beyond our comprehension. As a parent, all that we can know at the moment is that it hurts ..... and will continue to hurt for a long time. Still, healing is assured. That we learned as children a long time ago, when the world was young and the age of innocence defined that world.
We will remember the good things, the good times, the profound and endless love that is special between parents and their children.
Drake’s parents - Geddes D. Anderson, Sr. and Susan Long Anderson - have lost a big part of their lives and surely the heart of this community goes out to each. But, then, all of Greenwood also shares the loss. To paraphrase John Donne, no man is an island ..... and anyone’s death diminishes each of us. When a youngster dies, though, something special is gone from our lives. At times like that, “diminished” doesn’t seem quite strong enough.