Getting a warm welcome to the Hall of Fame

Chamber spotlights honorees

June 6, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — The plot was complicated and the conspiracy deep.
Stories were told and then counter-stories were given.
There were even stories to counter the counter-stories.
Family members and friends had been given what amounted to a mission impossible — trying to keep longtime Abbeville County historian May Baskin Hutchinson in the dark on her induction into the Greater Abbeville Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame during Tuesday’s membership banquet. It was not going to be an easy task.
Hutchinson, an Abbeville County Museum and Abbeville Opera House board member, is not one to have the wool pulled over her eyes.
But her daughters — Jean Hutchinson, of Charleston, and Ann Waigand, of Herndon, Va. — succeeded in doing just that. And when Mary Chase Ford began to read the career highlights of the newest Hall of Fame inductee, May Baskin Hutchinson knew she had been snookered but good.
“You have no idea what they did to get me here,” she said. “I’m still shaking right now. I had no idea any of this was going on.”
Which was just the way her daughters wanted it.
“I was always scared to tell her a story, I just couldn’t do it,” Jean Hutchinson said. “This was the woman that had eyes in the back of her head and we pulled one over on her. We’ve told some tall tales, and then tales to keep up with those. For once we got one over on momma.”
The evening’s second Hall of Fame induction went to former City of Abbeville special projects coordinator Jim Simpson, who died last fall.
His wife, Betty Simpson, accepted the award on his behalf.
The Chamber Community Service Award was presented to Helen Speer, while Ivan and Gloria Swartzentruber — owners of The Dutch Oven restaurant — were presented with the organization’s small business award.
Chamber president Brad Evans also passed the leadership position over to incoming president Wayne Tucker, of Milliken.
“It’s exciting to see how far we’ve come,” Evans said. “We have grown, and we hope to continue to grow in the years to come.”
Serving as special guest speaker Tuesday was journalist and author John Boyanoski, who used inspiration found in Abbeville to pen his first book — “Ghosts of Upstate South Carolina,” written in 2006.
The book’s cover illustration features Abbeville Opera House.
“Who believes in ghosts?” Boyanoski asked the crowd. “I was completely blown away by the beauty of your town — the square and the churches.”
Later, when the time came to compile his book on prominent ghost stories of the Upstate, he was again blown away by Abbeville, and just how many unique tales there were to be told in the small community.
“That’s what set Abbeville apart from all the others,” Boyanoski said. “Every town seems to have that story about a haunted bridge or a hitchhiker story, but Abbeville had so many stories that were all so unique.”
The ghost story that is said to have taken place inside Abbeville Opera House involves a lone chair in a deserted section of a forgotten balcony area that is no longer used. The chair — which Boyanoski says could have been placed there as early as the 1920s — remains unmoved to this day.
Actors who have performed at Abbeville Opera House have long claimed to have seen a woman standing and applauding after shows.
Boyanoski has no idea who the woman could be.
“There’s no good theory as to who she is,” he said. “There was once a shooting inside the opera house and a man was killed. Maybe she was a family member or something. We just don’t know.”

Inspiration and perspiration:
Relay team collects $100,000

June 6, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

The Grand Harbor Patriots Relay for Life Team simply needed a little inspiration to get started with its fundraising four years ago.
Now, after raising $102,062.85 for the American Cancer Society, the inspiration is still there in the memory of the first resident in the Grand Harbor community, Pat Eckstein, who battled with a number of cancers before dying two years ago this September.
“She was the inspiration to get Grand Harbor started,” property owner Pat Boyce said. Boyce remembers her well since she had moved in as the second property owner.
“We all became fond of her, and it made us want to fight for cancer research.”
The community has certainly done that — setting South Carolina records for contributions to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life recently held at Greenwood Family YMCA.
Grand Harbor also surpassed its 2006 total by $44,000 and have possibly raised (the results aren’t in from a Spartanburg community yet) more money than any team ever in South Carolina for a team event. More than 100 members contributed from the community and surrounding communities on Lake Greenwood. The members and sponsors gathered Tuesday evening at the Grand Harbor clubhouse to celebrate the job well done for cancer research.
“I think it’s pretty incredible,” said Thornwell Dunlap, the president/ CEO of Countybank. “For this community to raise this sum, I think it’s an incredible feat on their part.
Countybank is a sponsor for Grand Harbor’s annual golf tournament- a tournament Dunlap unfortunately had to miss. “Next year I plan to be around to play in the golf tournament,” he affirmed.
However, there is more to Grand Harbor fundraising events than the golf tournament. Team members also hold an auction, a scavenger hunt, as well as conduct Lakelands-area solicitations and yard sales. Possible new options include a tennis tournament, a kayak race and anything else that includes many participants.
“The community has a lot of ideas,” said Tom Moore, property manager and team captain. “We have to ask ‘what does the community want to do?’”
He said that though members have new ideas, the old ones work too.
“If it works, and is not broken, don’t fix it,” he said.
Nothing is broken about the fundraising of Grand Harbor.
“Our goal (for the next Relay for Life) is probably about $150,000,” Moore said.
Members agreed $150,000 is a great amount, but they can remember back to their first year when they raised $18,000, which was a huge accomplishment in itself.
But with the motivation of Eckstein and the members in the community who either have or have had cancer, Grand Harbor is not slowing down. That’s what Tuesday night’s celebration was all about - celebrating and thanking the members and the sponsors who gave so willingly of their time, money and effort for the cause of finding a cure for cancer.

Spartanburg sweep

Ovenden, Pleier take top spots
in Festival’s junior golf tourney

June 6, 2007

By SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

The Festival of Flowers junior golf tournament turned into a Spartanburg sweep Tuesday at Greenwood Country Club.
Spartanburg’s Will Ovenden won the boys tournament with a 5-under-par 139 over two days, beating Barnwell’s Kyle Bearden by two strokes, while fellow Dorman High School classmate Taylor Pleier won by five shots with a 7-over 149 in the girls bracket.
The win capped a solid two days for Dorman products. The Cavaliers had a leader in the boys and girls tournament both days.
“We’ve got a lot of good players,” Ovenden said of his state championship high school team. “Most of them are really young, so we should have a good future.”
The present isn’t looking too bad either.
Ovenden fired a 4-under 68 in the final round to win the tournament. Heading into the final round, Ovenden trailed fellow Dorman teammate Clint Tolleson, who finished tied for fourth.
“I had a good front nine and shot a 34 on the front again,” Ovenden said.
After a birdie on No. 10, however, Ovenden’s round looked as if it might fall apart, much like Monday’s poor back nine, where he fired a 2-over 38. After back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 11-12, Ovenden saw his lead shrink and began wondering if a meltdown was in the works.
“At that point, I was a little worried, because I was only up by one and had given up a three-shot lead,” Ovenden said. “I thought I blew it right there.”
But Ovenden recovered. He birdied three of the final four holes, including getting to the par-5 15’s green in two shots and a solid putt for birdie on 18.
“I had a good start and a good finish, but I was a little shaky in between,” he said.
Brandon Truesdale, of Winnsboro, was third with a 142, while Orangeburg’s Jacob Burger and Tolleson were tied for fourth with 1-under 143s. Florence native Stephen Behr was sixth with a 144. Greenwood’s Matt Martin, Sumter’s Hayden Letien and Chapin’s Wesley Bryan tied for seventh with 145s, and Easley’s Corbin Mills rounded out the top 10 with a 147.
The top 10 finishers receive exemptions into the Festival of Flowers Invitational Golf Classic to be played June 23-24 at Greenwood Country Club.
Bearden, who finished second, said he was pleased with his round, but he felt like it could have been closer. Of course, a closing eagle for the Barnwell High School rising senior is what secured a second-place finish.
“I shot 1 under on the front just like (Monday),” Bearden said. “When I got to No. 12 on Monday, I hit a tree and it fell out of bounds. So when I got it into the fairway on that hole, I knew I was doing a little better. It was just one hole, but I was a little better. Then, I made a good eagle on 18 from about 6 feet.”
Pleier entered the second round of the tournament in a tie with Haley Stephens, of Greer, but Pleier bested the field by shooting a 1-over 73 in the final round.
Finishing second was Stephens, with a 10-over 154, while Lexington’s Danielle Dunnagan carded a 157 over two days. Pleier, Stephens and Dunnagan all receive exemptions into the Festival of Flowers Women’s Open Golf Tournament set for Saturday and Sunday at the Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor.
Pleier, who will be a sophomore at Dorman this fall, said she had to fight off some jitters in her final round.
“Both days I started out a little shaky,” Pleier said. “I was kind of nervous. On Monday, I didn’t have a very good front nine, but I came back and played the way I needed to play.”
It was the first year the girls were permitted to compete in the Festival of Flowers junior event, a feat not lost on Pleier.
“It was really amazing,” Pleier said. “It’s been a while since I’ve won a tournament, so I’m very pleased and excited to win the first time the girls play in this one.”

Post 20 comeback not enough to beat Belton

June 6, 2007

By SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

Greenwood’s American Legion baseball team loaded the bases twice in the bottom of the ninth inning and pushed across two runs Tuesday night, but it wasn’t nearly enough to complete a comeback, and Post 20 lost to Belton Post 51 5-4 in a League VII game at Legion Field.
Trailing 5-2 heading into the ninth inning, Brandon Miller singled, Cruse Tollison walked and Christian Powell singled to load the bases for Post 20 (4-5 overall, 1-1 league).
With the bases loaded, Drew Willingham walked on a 3-1 pitch to plate the first run, and an error by the Belton second baseman during Corey Lloyd’s at-bat, scored another run.
But with the bases loaded again, Matt White grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Belton (3-2, 2-0) struck first in the second inning to claim a 3-0 lead. Belton right fielder Jay Cox singled to left field to start Post 51 off, and Jared Tavenier doubled to right-center field in the next at-bat.
After Rocky Johnson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Barrett Phillips, Belton’s No. 9 batter, singled through the middle of the infield and recorded two RBIs.
Matthew Moore followed Belton’s single with a bloop single that fell in front of Greenwood’s right fielder. Johnson scored on the hit.
Greenwood answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lloyd singled to left field to reach first and moved to second on Matt White’s double to right-center field.
On the mound, Nathan Holland tossed 1 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and three runs. Willingham, who inherited two runners from Holland in the second inning, threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and two runs, while striking out five.
Tollison closed out the game for Post 20, pitching the final three innings, allowing one hit and no runs, while striking out two.

Obituaries

Audrey Lee Timms Bowie

ABBEVILLE — Audrey Lee Timms Bowie, 78, former resident of Due West, wife of the late John Calvin “J.C.” Bowie, died Monday, June 4, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center. She was born in Greenwood County to the late Capers E. and Zelpha Thelma Cullens Timms.
She retired from Abbeville Manufacturing and was a member of Gilgal United Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Capers E. Timms, Jr. and Howard Timms, and a sister, Mary Branyon.
She is survived by her two daughters, Debra B. Bowie and her husband, Billy, and Glenda B. Pruitt and her husband, Gene, all of Abbeville; a brother, Oscar Timms of Hodges; a sister, Dot Brissey of Hodges; four grandchildren, Niki Bowie, Leigh Wilson and her husband, James, Rob Pruitt and his wife, Jennifer, and Katie Pruitt; two great-grandchildren, Cal Wilson and Rhett Wilson.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 7, 2007 in the Harris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Family members are at their respective homes and will receive friends at the cemetery after the service.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Audrey to the Gilgal U.M.C. Cemetery Fund, c/o Bonnie Lowry, PO Box 192, Due West, SC 29639.
Online condolences may be sent to the Bowie family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Bowie family.

Donnie E. Bussey

HODGES — Donnie Edward Bussey, 56, of 1215 Miller Road, died Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals.

Michael Ernest Free

COLUMBIA — Service for Michael Ernest “Mike” Free, 63, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Riverland Hills Baptist Church, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be Wednesday 6-8 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo.
Mr. Free died Sunday, June 3, 2007. Born in Columbia, he was the son of the late Ernest Fitzland and Helen Stone Free. He was a 1961 graduate of Denmark-Olar High School where he was a drummer in the marching band. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Shangri-La and received an associate degree with honors in business from Palmer College. He was retired as an environmental systems operator with Philips Components.
Mr. Free was a member of Riverland Hills Baptist Church, where he served as an usher and member of the SOS Sunday School Class. He was also an avid Gamecock fan.
Surviving are his wife, Kathi Ouzts Free; daughters and sons-in-law, Stacey Free-Branham and Joey Branham of Irmo, Melanie Free Rollings and Greg Rollings of Columbia and Kelley Free Arant and Delorme Arant of Lexington; sister, Dixie Keeney of St. Petersburg, Fla. He loved and supported his grandchildren, Bekah Free, Caitey Free, Jake Branham and Sammey Branham. Memorials may be made to Riverland Hills Baptist Church, “Ripple Effect” Fund or to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, 1247 Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo, S.C. 29063.
A special thanks is extended to the doctors and staff at Lexington Oncology Associates and MUSC for their dedicated care and support.
www.dunbarfunerals.com

Cathy J. Reyes

ABBEVILLE — Cathy J. Reyes, 36, of Abbeville, wife of Mike Reyes, died Saturday, June 2, 2007 at Abbeville Area Medical Center. She was born in Cincinnati, OH, to the late Waymon and Rosemary Scott Sallee.
She is survived by her husband of the home, a daughter, Ashley Dawn Morris of Tulsa, OK; three sons, Michael Morris of Tulsa, OK, Brandon Reyes and Aaron Reyes, both of Abbeville.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2007 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Online condolences may be sent to the Reyes family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Reyes family.

Nancy Ware

IVA — Nancy Ann Smallwood Ware, 55, resident of 116 Ware Road, wife of Ronnie Carroll Ware, died Monday June 4, 2007 at her residence.
Born March 11, 1952 in Greenwood, a daughter of the late Bobby O’Neal and Betty Jo Smallwood Holder, she was of the Baptist faith and had retired from Capsugel after 25 years of service.
Surviving in addition to her husband of 23 years of the home are daughters, Angela Poore and husband, Dwayne of Lowndesville, Meredith Ward and husband, John of Saluda; son, Mitchell Ware and wife, Stephanie of Due West; sister, Susan Hatley of Greenwood; 3 grandchildren, Bryson Poore, Haleigh Poore and Stone Ward.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. from the Chapel of Blyth Funeral Home, with Reverend Tim Ellenburg officiating.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Those desiring may make memorials to a charity of choice in memory of Mrs.Ware.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Ware family.

Opinion

D-Day anniversary offers look at U. S. and world

June 6, 2007

It’s been 63 years since D-Day when the Allied forces’ invaded Normandy to save the world from fascism. That history-making assault was more than the beginning of the end of Adolf Hitler’s brutal regime, however. It was a new beginning for the downtrodden that eventually led many of them to the kind of prosperity they had never known.
Thanks to motion pictures like “Saving Private Ryan,” Americans were given an amazingly real picture of how brutal and bloody that invasion was, and how much the United States and its allies sacrificed for others.
The rest, as they say, is history.

COUNTRIES THAT HAD BEEN devastated by Nazi control and the destruction of war that Hitler initiated recovered because of one thing: The United States provided the impetus and the wherewithal for them to rise from the ashes and build first-rate economies.
The Marshall Plan was the key. The American aid that flowed to needy nations worked wonders. Also, after Berlin was partitioned into four sections controlled by the U. S., Britain, the Soviet Union and France, Communist Soviet Union blocked access to the city. A bold move was needed and President Harry Truman saved the day. Allied sections were supplied through a Herculean effort, the Berlin airlift. Mr. Truman had American planes carry loads of food and supplies to keep them going. Finally, the blockade was lifted when the airlift succeeded beyond expectations.

BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT from the U. S. and other free nations, the European victims of World War II not only survived, they blossomed.
Now, the rest of the story, and that comes in a couple of questions: Where would many of those nations be had it not been for American support? And, which now gives credit where credit is due?
Oh, yes, there is another question: Which has made it a practice of snubbing America at just about every turn?D-Day is a reminder of what American money, guns and lives have done for other nations. It’s also a time to reflect upon today’s world ..... the pros and the cons. It’s troubling to think there are many who owe Americans but still ask what we’ve done for them lately.
D-Day tells the story ..... but sometimes you wonder if anyone’s listening?