Dry & Desperate?

Greenwood free from restrictions, but saving water is still a priority

June 3, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

In response to lingering dry conditions, some South Carolina cities are starting to restrict water use; will Greenwood follow suit?
“We do not anticipate any restriction right now,” CPW Manager Steve Reeves said.
“Lake Greenwood is maintaining typical levels right now. The Greenwood supply is in excellent condition.”
That does not mean, however, that residents should not take certain measures to conserve water.
Steve Odom, Greenwood County Extension agent, said residents wanting to water plants should do so in the morning and water heavily at that time, not just sprinkle water.
“Water thoroughly and leave it alone,” Odom said. “It takes a lot of water to keep plants growing.”
Odom said that if the county goes another week of two without significant rainfall, it could be facing a restriction on some water usage.
“I know the Lexington and Columbia areas are already doing it,” he said. “We’re really feeling the pinch of this drought.”
Richard Welch, the manager of the drinking water compliance section in Columbia said that, as of Friday afternoon, Rock Hill, Fort Mill and York County were on water restrictions because of the drought.
Welch said York County and Fort Mill buy their water from Rock Hill.
“Rock Hill has asked them to cut back,” he said.
Though Greenwood isn’t to that point yet, it is still a good idea to preserve water.
A couple in Greenwood are doing just that.
Jack and Pat Burton, Marshall Road residents, want to keep their yard looking green and healthy, but don’t want to waste water doing it.
They learned from a neighbor 30 years ago a technique that others could learn from. “It’s just a milk jug with a pin hole in the bottom,” Jack said.
It may sound simple, but the idea works.
The couple have surrounded small, growing trees with milk jugs, filled them to the top and then poked a small pinhole in the bottom. The jugs are placed on top of the trees’ root, and the slow drip hydrates them without wasting the water.
“We have so many new trees; we have to keep something going or they will die,” Pat said.
Jack said the process saves water because the water doesn’t run out of the hose and puddle up.
“We just want to keep them alive until the drought is over,” Jack said.
Odom confirmed the technique does work.
“That works because you aren’t trying to water a large area,” he said. “A lot of people do it with tomatoes. That helps.”
But that is not all the Burtons are doing to save water.
Jack has set up a hose to collect the condensation from his air conditioning unit.
“The water used to puddle up. Now it goes into a hose and into the tree.”
While they’ve been watering their trees with milk jugs idea for years, the air conditioning idea is relatively new. Jack started it last year.
“Might as well water something with it,” Jack said of the extra water.
The Lakelands area hopes to get some natural water from the skies soon, but chances remain low.
According to the National Weather Service Friday afternoon, today’s forecast finds temperatures mid-80s and a 30 percent chance of rain. There are chances for thunderstorms in the forecast.

‘A dream come true’:
Calhoun Falls celebrates start of development

Residential homes a prominent part of lake’s Sanctuary

June 3, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

CALHOUN FALLS — A trio of lawmakers introduced the new development Saturday at The Sanctuary at Lake Russell in Calhoun Falls.
State Sen. John Drummond, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett addressed a crowd gathered under a tent inside the new development. They, along with developer Stephen Rosenburgh, president of US Land; Jay West, of Erskine College; and Chad Prosser, director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, described the development’s purpose — as well as what it has taken to get the project up and running.
“What an exciting day for this neck of the woods, what an exciting day for South Carolina,” Barrett said. “It is a dream come true, and I’m 46 years old and I think this thing started when I was about 3 years old.”
“I’ve never seen so many people watch one piece of land like they’ve watched this,” Graham said. “It’s been unbelievable the number of agencies involved and the number of reasons to say no.”
Indeed, the development has been a long time coming.
Rosenburgh said the Army Corps of Engineers built the lake 30 years ago with plans of development.
“I hope people understand what it took to get us here today,” West said.
Twenty lots have been prereleased, three have been sold and six are now in contract.
Eventually, the plans for the 1,500-acre project are for 2,000 lots, two marinas, a golf course, a hotel with a retail complex and the John Drummond Conference Center. Of the lots available, 80 will be in the town of Calhoun Falls.
Rosenburgh also mentioned homes are available for build by US Land, or they might be built by owners.
Erskine College will find the development useful, with The Blue Hole Recreation Area available with opportunities for canoeing and kayaking as well as labs for teaching ecology, history and biology.
However, Rosenburgh emphasized the availability of residential lots.
Normally priced between $60,000 and $240,000, lots were listed at $48,000 and $178,800 for Saturday and a short time following.
“It’s an opportunity to put down roots in a natural setting that can be savored, preserved and passed down from one generation to the next,” said community sales manager Scott Gise in an informational letter to ribbon-cutting attendees.
No matter who spoke about the development, they were all appreciative of the people of Calhoun Falls — the ones who have seen the development through from its beginning.
“So many people had so many parts, but the one part that gets left out too many time is this part right here — you guys,” he said. “It’s the men and women in the community that make things happen.”

Junior tourney begins Monday

June 3, 2007

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

Chris Miller, managing director of the S.C. Junior Golf Association, travels the state to conduct junior tournaments.
He has been to Greenwood in the past, but his return this week will be for what he hopes will be the stepping stone for bigger and better things.
The first Junior Festival of Flowers Tournament is Monday and Tuesday at Greenwood Country Club, and 90 young players are ready to attack the course.
“We have 78 boys and 12 girls in the first one,” Miller said of the tournament that replaces an 11-year event known as the premier high school invitational conducted by the SCJGA, presented by the Greenwood Development Corp., and played on Hilton Head Island.
The tournament is played in honor of the late Jimmy Self, former chairman of the board for Greenwood Mills. Self served as captain of the Clemson golf team for two years and was on the S.C. Golf Association Board for two years.
In announcing the move to Greenwood, Miller said, “It was an accumulative effort. Greenwood Development had courses on Hilton Head, and it was hard to go to some of the resort courses in the time frame the High School League allows us to play.”
The move also provided an opportunity to play out from under the High School League umbrella, and Miller said, “We jumped at it.”
“We had kids based on their abilities on the golf course, but more important was getting them on education,” Miller said. “We got the opportunity to have kids a little better in the classroom than on the golf course.
“There’s nothing wrong with the High School League. They have their seasons, but there are so many good tournaments out there, and we thought it would be a good way to separate us from the league and continue to have good players.”
This year’s players are from South Carolina, but future plans call for them to come from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
“These kids are jacked up about it,” said Miller, who observes many of the juniors on more than one occasion. “To my knowledge, it’s the only tournament that awards students for being students. And, it’s a chance to showcase these players.”
The criteria for playing includes a USGA handicap index, as well as the grade-point average and/or class rank.
“Most of our kids are 3.0 or higher (GPA) and the highest handicap for the boys is about six while 10 is about right for the girls. It’s a pretty strong field and it will be a shoot-out.”
Playing yardages are about 5,700 for the girls and 6,800 for the boys, who will play from the back tees.
Miller said he looks for the boys’ winner to be around two or three under par, with plus five or six is a good number for the girls. Tee times start at 8:30 a.m. Monday at No. 1 and 10.
At least three juniors ranked in the top five in the state will appear. They are No. 1 Jacob Burger, of Orangeburg; No. 3 Wesley Bryan, of Chapin; and No. 5 Will Ovenden, of Spartanburg.
No. 6 Haley Stephens, of Greer, is the highest-ranking girl in the field.
Local players are Jordan Jay, of Ninety Six; Walt Todd, Neal Todd and Caleb Sturgeon, all of Laurens; J.W. Walker, Matt Martin, Hayes Lanford, Travis Gantt and Dustin Smith, all of Greenwood; and Thomas Horne, of Abbeville.

Obituaries

Lester Adams

B. Lester Adams, 72, of Greenwood and formerly of Abbeville, husband of the late Gwendolyn “Gwen” Bailey Adams, died Thursday, May 31, 2007, at Heartland Nursing Home in Columbia, S.C. He was the son of the late Willard C.L. Adams and Gypsy Adams. Mr. Adams was a retired railroad conductor with 36 years of service. He was a member of Rice Memorial Baptist Church and the Adult 5 Sunday School Class.
Mr. Adams is survived by his children, Robert (Tony) Adams of Savannah, Ga., Anne Adams of Atlanta, Ga., and Julie Adams of Greenville, S.C.; step-children, Bruce Saylors and Lesa Jeffries of Abbeville, S.C., Angie Simpson and Dena Oliver of Greenwood, S.C.; two sisters, Betty Hammon of Guild, Tenn. and Susan Nash of Atlanta, Ga., fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2007, at Harris Funeral Home.
Funeral services conducted by the Rev. Alvin Hodges, will begin at 12 noon on Monday, June 4, 2007 in the Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Adams may be sent to Shriner’s Hospital for Children-Greenville, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, S.C. 29605-4277 or to Rice Memorial Baptist Church, 1975 Hwy. 72 West, Greenwood, S.C. 29649.
The family will be at their respective homes.
Online condolences may be sent to the Adams family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Adams family.

Don Baker

HODGES — Donald Ray Baker, 70 husband of Sue Ross Baker, of 107 Baker Court, Hodges, S.C., died June 1, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center. He was born in Greenwood County, a son of the late Caleb Lester and Virginia Ruth Lollis Baker. He was self-employed at Baker’s Body Shop and was a member of Shady Grove Church of God of Prophecy.
Surviving are his wife of the home; two sons, Ross Baker and wife Tonya, Anderson, S.C., Heath Baker and wife Pam of Ninety Six; four daughters, Tanya Baker of the home, Renee Blackman and husband, John, Summer Baker and Etana Baker all of Hodges; three brothers, Mack Baker, Richmond, Va., Millard Baker, Hodges, Carlton Baker, Sanford, N.C.; two sisters, Juanita Akers, Hodges, and Elizabeth Martin, Richmond, Va.; and eight grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by two brothers, Furman Baker of Aiken, S.C., and James Baker, Sanford, N.C.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, 4 p.m. at Shady Grove Church of God of Prophecy with Rev. Robert Zellers, Jr. and Rev. Raymond Enwright officiating. Burial will be in Ware Shoals Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Kenneth Baker, Vincent Baker, James Stone, Chuck Ross, William Alverson, Taylor Gray and Jason Sellars.
The grandchildren will sit as the honorary escort.
The body will be placed in the church at 3 p.m. on Monday.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Sunday, 6-9 p.m. at Parker-White Funeral Home in Ware Shoals.

James Dixon

BELTON — James Phillip Dixon, age 86, of 106 Short St., Belton S.C., passed away Friday June 1, 2007, at the Barnwell County Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by The Holloway’s Funeral Home Inc., Belton.
The family is at the home.

Bernice A. Duckett

Bernice A. Duckett. 84, of Wesley Commons, formerly of 119 Tompkins Street, passed away Saturday, June 2, 2007, at Wesley Commons.
The family is at 1219 Florida Ave.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Virginia Queen Fleming

Virginia Fleming, 85, of 215 Abbey Lane, Greenwood, died Friday, June 1, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center. Born April 3, 1922, in Little Switzerland, NC, she was the daughter of the late Reid Marcus and Queen McKinney Queen, and she was the wife of Sam Jones Fleming. She was a member of Golightly United Methodist Church in Spartanburg, SC, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughter, Mary F. Siltzer and husband Richard; daughter, Margaret F. Martin and husband, George, all of Greenwood; grandson, Jason Siltzer of Hendersonville, NC; granddaughter, Ashley Amaker of Spartanburg, SC; grandson, Cole Martin of Spruce Pine, NC; great-granddaughter, Lindsay Virginia Martin of Spartanburg; great-grandson, Dallas Martin of Spartanburg; great-granddaughter, Maggie Martin of Spruce Pine; great-granddaughter, Taylor Amaker of Spartanburg; and great-grandson, Chase Amaker of Spartanburg.
Visitation will be 2-2:45 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2007, at Golightly United Methodist Church, Spartanburg. Funeral Services will follow at 3 p.m. at the church, conducted by the Rev. Marvin Crowe, the Rev. Dorothy Culp, and Mr. Jason Siltzer. Burial will be at the Fleming Family Cemetery in Golightly Community.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Golightly United Methodist Church, 2000 Highway 56, Spartanburg, SC 29302, or to Mobile Meals Service, P.O. Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304.
The family is at their respective homes.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com.

Virginia Greene

Virginia Whitfield Greene, 74, of 634 Cobb Road, widow of Ralph L. Greene, died Friday, June 1, 2007. She was born in Stephens County, Ga., a daughter of the late Doyle South and the late Beulah Lee Whitfield. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Ware Shoals.
Surviving are one son, James F. “Jimmy” Greene, Inman; two daughters, Mary Greene and Jenny Young, both of Abbeville; three half-brothers, Kenneth Manning, Homasassa Springs, Fla.; Donald Hickman, Pelzer, and Hal Hickman, Myrtle Beach. Also six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be conducted Monday, at 3 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Rev. Jeff Kelley officiating.
The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends Sunday, 6-8 p.m. at Parker-White Funeral Home.

Margaret Henderson

Margaret Metts Henderson, 93, resident of 105 West Laurel Avenue, widow of Arthur M. Henderson, died June 1, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in the Phoenix Community of Greenwood County, November 21, 1913, she was a daughter of the late Thomas H. and Aurelia (Ara) Dominick Metts. She attended Winthrop College and was a graduate of Lander College. Mrs. Henderson was formerly employed as a social worker with the state of SC and retired as an attendance officer from Greenwood School District 50.
A member of Rehoboth United Methodist Church where she taught in the Sunday School Department for over 40 years, she was also a member of the Mary Witt Circle and the Senior Luncheon Group of the church. She was also an active member of the Lander Alumni Association, the Violet Garden Club, and was an avid bridge player.
Surviving are a daughter, Diane Henderson Horton and husband Thomas W. of Elizabethton, TN and a sister, Hall M. Ouzts of Greenwood; a granddaughter, Meg Horton Brown and husband, Gary L. of Elizabethton, TN; longtime special neighbors, Ed and Lois Davis and longtime special friends Elizabeth Byrd and Elizabeth Dickert.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Fred Buchanan officiating.
Entombment will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Harry Metts, Bill Metts, Chris Mosely, Jay Mosely, Gary Brown, Earl Wrenn, and Clifton Eakin.
The body is at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and caregivers in CCU at Self Regional Medical Center for the care and concern given to Mrs. Henderson.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Rehoboth United Methodist Church, 1808 Callison Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For additional information and online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Henderson family.

Fred Jackson

Services for William Fred Jackson will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Beulah Baptist Church with the Rev. David Cobb officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Jim Alexander, Ray Jackson, Freddie Johnson, Brian Arthur, Benji Tedards, Dan Greer, Paul Arthur and Rick Jackson.
Honorary escort will be the members of the Men’s Sunday School Class and the deacons of Beulah Baptist Church along with Jacob Johnson.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. on Monday.
The family is at the home.
Mr. Jackson, 87, of 1416 Woodlawn Road, husband of Minnie Lee Botts Jackson, with whom he would have shared 67 years of marriage in October, died Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Rutherford County, NC, he was a son of the late William A. and Emmaline Bridges Jackson. He was retired from Aldridge Machine Works and was a member of Greenwood #91 A.F.M. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church, where he was a former deacon and Sunday School teacher.
Surviving is his wife of the home; four daughters, Carolyn Gary of Atlanta, GA, Peggy Arthur of Dallas, TX, Mary G. Stroud of Waterloo and Risa McAllister of Greenwood; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Mary F. Williams

Mary Frances Williams, 94, of National Healthcare Center, formerly of 204 Freetown Road, Hodges, died Saturday, June 2, 2007, at NHC.
The family is at 204 Freetown Road, Hodges.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Opinion

Subtle or not, change is taking a terrible toll

June 3, 2007

Sometimes it’s subtle. At other times it’s breathtakingly swift. That’s the change that accompanies time in its relentless march into tomorrow.
As far as time goes, there’s nothing we can do to turn back the clock, or even stop the sands of time from shifting. There are times, though, when we can harness change and use it to benefit mankind. Unfortunately, there also are times when change can drastically alter our lives, particularly when we take the attitude that we cannot resist the inevitable.
The consequences? It’s a surefire formula for failure
It’s happening in South Carolina now. We see it just about every way we turn. although negative change can be as subtle as the falling dew.

BEFORE WE KNOW IT, THOUGH, change becomes an erosive social factor, and through a simple lack of attention we let it happen arbitrarily.
Society as a whole changes with a whimper instead of a bang. It goes almost unnoticed until one day we wake up and realize the world we used to know, when our youthfulness made us feel bullet-proof with an attitude, is gone.
We may not pay close attention sometimes, but life, as we knew it, has indeed changed, and it continues to change, and not necessarily for the better.
If there are telltale things about declining civility, it might be the trend to casualness, even in how we dress for church. It’s often too informal and contrary to the awe and respect that historically have enhanced the atmosphere of worship.

MANNERS, TOO, HAVE ERODED in our artificial “self-esteem” and “politically correct” environment. So has language. Blasphemy, obscenities and profanities are heard everywhere, even on playgrounds and schoolhouses.
We help support education through gambling. What does that say about us? Are we really content to let the end justify the means? Sexual exploitation, irreverent and illogical lifestyles, domestic and animal abuse, political fraud, morbid fascination with events that feature bloody, bizarre, and violent exploitation, and much more chip away at morality. A way of life is subverted by hedonistic attitudes that more and more define who and what we are.
In effect, we are discarding the values that put civil into civilization. Along the way we ignore history, and it’s true what they say. If we don’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.
Look around.