Wagener Monthly - April 2012

8/2/2019 Wagener Monthly - April 2012

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Wagenermonthlycovering wagener and eastern aiken county

Taste of HomeCooking School is May 10 | pg. 20

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

WAGENER An accident that lefta 2011 Wagener-Salley High graduatedead and another seriously injured lateThursday night has shaken the close-knitstudents and faculty.

Chase Ray, who was killed in thetwo-car collision, and Amber Williams,airlifted to a Columbia hospital, were

ainstays of Wagener-Salleys ArmyJROTC program.

Im just trying to grasp this myself,

said commander Col. Maxie Joye. Thesetwo were such a big part, and everyonegets to know each other like brothersand sisters. Chase and Amber have beenike a son and daughter for the sergeantajor (Michael Fowler) and me. Were

doing what we can to support the familiesand help our kids transition through thistragedy.

BY ROB [email protected]

Graduates were big part of Army JROTC

FBC WAGENER SPONSORS ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

See more Easter egg hunt photos on pages 14, 15 and 24

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL WILLIAMS

TRAGEDY STRIKES: Amber Williams and Chase Ray were both mainstays in the Wagener-Salley Army JROTC program, according to commander Col. Maxie Joye. Chase died in a caraccident on April 19, and Amber was airlifted to a Columbia hospital with serious injuries.Please see CADETS, page 27

FROM THE

MAYORS DESK

PHOTOS BY VALERIE SLIKER

On April 26, after 13 years of faith-ful and excellent service to the Town ofWagener, Mr. Ed LaBine will retire. Mr.Ed joined the town staff in 1999. He has

served in many differ-ent roles resulting in

progress and improve-ments that will havea positive and lastingimpact on the townand its operations.

It was his exper-

tise and hard workthat brought an oldand historical build-ing back to life, theone we now call theWagener Town Hall

and Municipal Center. We congratulateMr. Ed on his retirement, thank him forhis dedicated service and wish him and

Please see MAYOR, page 27

MAYOR MIKE

MILLER


2/28

2 Wagener Monthly Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Remembering joint services, revivals from yesteryeaMemoriesMemories are precious. Memories are

omething that cannot be taken away fromou. Memories bring you great comfort andoy. Memories can sustain you through dif-icult times. Memories allow you to remem-er from where you came and look forwardo where you are going. Memories areods gift from the past for the future.

Revive Us AgainThis past Easter Sunday, Wagener United

Methodist Church andFirst Baptist ChurchWagener celebrated the

resurrection of JesusChrist; the two congre-gations joined togetherat First Baptist.

The Easter messagewas shared betweenUnited Methodist PastorScott Smoak and FirstBaptist Pastor PhilipTurner.

The two churchesombined choirs blessed the congregation

ith special music, and United Methodisthoir Director Lynn West and First Baptisthoir Director Britta Carver sang a duet.The communion ritual was served to the

ongregation by both Pastors Smoak andurner. It was a beautiful service and a

beautiful beginning for a special day.Several days prior to the service, Mama

and I were talking about the two churchesolding services together and how it har-

kened back to days of yesteryear.I can remember when church revival

services were held at least once a year andasted from Sunday to Sunday, and someevivals stretched out into a second week.

Some area churches held two revivals;one in the spring and one in the fall. Prepa-ations for revival week began months

ahead of the actual week.Often times the revival minister was

oused in one of the parishioners home;eal time was shared by other churchembers for both dinner and supper meals.

(This was the era when dinner was in the

iddle of the day, and supper was theighttime meal.)Everyone was invited to revival services,

ot just the church members. Althoughvisitors were welcomed at every service,each night of the service was designatedfor a particular area church.

Sunday school classes would be in com-petition to see how many guests each classwould get to attend. Most nights the pewswould be full, and sometimes extra seatingwas placed in the aisles.

Mama recollected that revival was a spe-cial time not only for spiritual renewal, but

also for mingling with family and friends.Family members that lived some dis-

tance away took the opportunity to returnhome and visit with relatives and friends.

Mama remembered that during summerrevivals that morning and evening serviceswere held. Teenage boys and girls wouldgo home with one another after the morn-ing meeting and return together at the eve-ning service.

She said that one time, after the morninggathering at New Holland Baptist Church,she and a crowd of teenage boys and girlswent home with her first cousin FayeReady.

Fayes mother Aunt Corrie was mygranddaddy Fred Lybrands oldest sister.Aunt Corrie and her husband Uncle Jeterlived over five miles from the church.

Someone in the crowd had a car, andMama recalled that they were packed inthat one car like sardines.

Aunt Corrie knew that she was going tobe feeding a larger crowd than usual andhad cooked a plenty a plenty of this anda plenty of that. Mama said, when they allsat down at the table, there was hardly any

elbow room.Aunt Corrie was very young when she

married Uncle Jeter; he was a graduate ofClemson and was apparently independentlywealthy, for most of his days were spentdriving his old Ford to Aiken and sittingaround the Aiken County Court House inhis 10 gallon hat talking with the other menthere.

Aunt Corrie and Uncle Jeter had fivedaughters and three sons: Annie, Sally,Derotha D.O., Johnny and Faye were the

girls; Patrick Henry Pat, James Monroeand Eugene Buckingham Punk were the

boys. Uncle Jeter always referred to hischildren as Corries younguns.

Most churches of 60 or 70 years agodid not have fellowship halls and kitch-ens. Therefore meals at church were heldoutside and referred to as dinner on theground.

There were usually makeshift tables ofsawhorses and planks of lumber set up tohold the dishes of food prepared and shared

by all.Some churches may have had permanent

boards wedged or nailed between low treelimbs that served as an eating table; how-ever, you had to stand to eat.

Most families brought blankets and bedspreads to place on the ground to provide asitting place while eating.

Mama said her mama Leila would notonly cook all kinds of food but would also

bring everyday dishes, eating utensils,drinking glasses and cloth napkins since

paper and plastic products were unheardof at that time. Dinner on the ground was

often the ritual for the first and last days ofrevival.

Even though I am a member of FirstBaptist, I grew up attending WagenerUnited Methodist Church, and I have somany, many good memories of those bygone days.

Just like Mama, I remember revival timeas a special time to have fellowship withfriends and maybe make new friends, too.I can recall as revival week approached,there was excitement in the air. The adultchoir was rehearsing special songs, and theyouth choir was, too.

Many times the guest minister would

preach fire and brimstone, and, as the altarcall was made, people would began to fileout of the pews eager to repent and ask forforgiveness while others may have beenaccepting Jesus for the first time.

The congregation would keep singingverse after verse and often the choir leaderwould call out a new hymn, and the con-gregation sang over and over until the last

person returned to his pew.The closing prayer would be one of

thankfulness and a plea for others to heed

the call and step out to God the next night.Then in closing, the congregation wouldsing Bless Be the Tie That Binds.

The preachers sermon was not the onlything sending out fire and brimstone; thechurch sanctuary would be stifling hot asair conditioning was not yet the luxury asit is today.

The church windows would be raised ashigh as possible, and most everyone in thecongregation would be using a handheldfan.

The cardboard fan advertising the localfuneral home or some other establishmentof the day held a special place in the hymn

book rack. No country church would bewithout the cardboard fans.

I remember that Grandmama Myra Tyler

had a black cloth fan that she kept in herSunday purse. I would play with it until Isaw Daddy give me the evil eye, and Iknew to give it back to Grandmama.

Things have really changed temperaturewise at church. Sometimes, I get so coldthat I get out of my seat and place hymnalson the air-conditioning vent.

The Sunday after Easter, Pastor Turnerreported that there were 210 people inattendance for the joint Easter service.

I had a hard time keeping my mind on

the service after his announcement, for Ikept remembering the church services ofanother time. Sweet, sweet memories.

LEMYRA

YOUNG


3/28

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Wagener Monthly 3

Kents Kornerhas reopened at

Hwy. 39, exit 33COURTESY OF WAGENERSC.COM

Kents Korner Convenience Store No.18, located at the intersection of Highway39 and I-20, exit 33, has reopened with afresh new look. The store closed on Dec.5 to begin a major update, leaving custom-ers eager for the reopening almost four

onths later. It was well worth the wait.

The store reopened at noon on March9, but the grand opening was held on its

first full day in service, March 30. Eachcustomer was given a free Hunts Brotherpizza throughout the day. This Kents

orner features Hunts Brothers Pizza, asell as a full service Huddle House.I spoke with Wendy Hartley, the storeanager about opening the new store. Its

een really wild, very, very busy. The stores a lot nicer, bigger, and were carryinglot of new products that we didnt carry

previously.The new features include:* Smartwater (@smartwater)* Tradewinds Tea (@DrinkTradewinds)* Sweet tea at the fountain* Milkshake machine with 8 or 9 flavors* Boneless chicken wings 24 hours* Sandwiches and baked goods from

Wageners Little Bake Shoppe* Washer and dryer laundromat* Bigger showersTo celebrate the grand opening, this one

Kents Korner location is offering any sizefountain drink for only 25 cents, limitedtime. Many customers came in for their5-cent soda and took a free pizza to go

with it.The grand opening was packed. The

excitement level was off the charts, peopleunning around with free pizza, sitting at

Huddle House enjoying a meal, or runningfountain drinks like the school water foun-tain. It was just plain old fun.

Local business supporting local busi-

ess.This Kents Korner location is now car-

ying sandwiches and baked goods fromThe Little Bake Shoppe, based right heren Wagener.

Clay Ingram, CIO Garvin Oil Company,Inc. said, Since everyone in Wagener isaddicted to their doughnuts, we need to

ake sure they have a fresh cup of ourKoffee to wash em down. And sincethey are supporting local business, no needto feel guilty about having two.

Local folks as well as out-of-townerswere enjoying the Grand Opening. These

local fellows enjoyed the Huddle Houselunch, saying, Little Megan (their wait-ress) was working hard making sure wewere both happy. Shes good. Every timemy tea was half empty, she was there torefill it. And that makes for happy people.

I had a chance to speak with Desiree,the Huddle House manager, just two days

before the Grand Opening when she waschecking every plate and glass and tablein the place. She was more than ready to

reopen.I met up with these two guys who had

no idea it was the grand opening. Onewas from Aiken, the other from New York

but visiting in Lexington. They wanted tomeet in the middle, and that was Exit33.

Ill be back! claimed the one fromNew York. We travel a lot. This place isnice because we can get our motor homearound easily. We cant go to a WaffleHouse with our motor home! Here we can

easily park it and turn it around, no prob-lem.

They both agreed it was excellent foodand excellent service.

Of course I had to speak to the happiestguys in the place I wanted to know whythey were so happy they had no free piz-zas, no 25-cent drinks. Whats up, whatare you doing? I asked.

It was Rich West and Don Golden,superintendents from Clifton Construction,the folks that did most of the remodeling. I

complimented them on a job well done.I think they blushed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WAGENERSC.COM


4/28


WOMENS WELLBY DIANNE

Most of the women at the Well either have

a big garden or have farmed in the past.Clara, Earthlean and Caroline are still doing

ajor gardening. They often bring in theirounty for us to share. All of us enjoy fresh,ocal fruits and vegetables.

This year my husband announced he wastired of feeding the rabbits and deer so wewont be planting a garden. Carolines solu-tion to this problem is plant enough for theanimals and humans alike. (I will miss goingto our garden boxes and picking fresh veg-gies, but I understand his complaint.)

There is a solution for my love for fresh,ocal fruits and vegetables a local farmers

arket here in Wagener. Many small townsave their own farmers market and are quite

successful. These markets usually take placeon Saturday mornings. Local farmers comeand sell their plants, fruits, vegetables, eggsand crafts. It is a fun time for all participat-ng buyers and sellers. Wagener FarmersMarket would be a good addition to ourgrowing town.

The Womens Well is going to have a

ooth at the Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale inRidge Spring on June 2. Several groups whoad booths there last year said it was well-

attended.Yard sales like this are very popular

throughout our country now. It is fascinating

to watch them on reality TV. We have hadmany donations of exceptionally, nice yardsale items given to us. This will be a good

opportunity to raise some funds for needsin our community. Please keep this date onyour calendar and join us in Ridge Spring fora shopping experience of a lifetime.

We are planning to have our Bible Studycontinue on Tuesday mornings throughoutthe summer from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Again,this summer, we will have a girls class onWednesday mornings. Last summer, girlsfrom 8 years to 13 years learned painting,sewing and crafting. This summer we mayadd cooking. If you know of any girls who

would like to join us, you can call Dianne at(803) 606-1780.

We are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.There are a number of beautiful quilts forsale. Come see for yourself.

Until next month, be blessed.

Starnes seeks sponsorship forustralian volleyball tourneyJenna Starnes has been invited to par-

ticipate in the Down Under Sports Tour-aments to be held in Australia. She was

selected to be an ambassador of not onlyy community and state but also the coun-

try. She will be participating in this inter-ational event on the East Central Confer-

ence Volleyball Team during the summerof 2012. She is seeking sponsors to makedonations toward the cost of competing

Down Under. A major source of fundscomes through voluntarycontributions of family,friends and business spon-

sors. Your sponsorship willbe a very important partof fundraising. Any dona-tions will help to fulfill thisonce-in-a-lifetime oppor-tunity.

For more information,contact Jennifer Starnes at

[email protected].

STARNES

SUBMITTED PHOTO

A DAY AT WOMENS WELL: Lorene, Lennieand Miracle work on a project.

AIKEN COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS

STAFF PHOTO BY ROB NOVIT

HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND: A.J. Livingston, a Busbee Corbett Elementary Middle Schoolstudent, celebrates with buddies Will Harley and Katie Hopkins of North Augusta HighSchool. A.J. had just thrown a football through a tire during the Young Athletes activities atthe Special Olympics.

BY NANCY BALLEWWagener Garden Club

The Wagener Garden Club met at 4p.m. on April 3 at Town Hall. While

enjoying delicious refreshments that werefurnished by Dee Outlaw, members spenta brief time welcoming Sandy and ChrisRandall, who presented the program. Also

present were new member Helen Jeffcoatand out-of-town guest Helen Ballew.

The program was about growinghydrangeas in home gardens. Sandy andChris showed pictures of hydrangeas in

their garden and others and told of vari-eties that grow in sun and shade. Some

bloom on new growth and bloom, evenif there is a freeze. Others rebloom andextend the blooming season.

The May meeting will be a visit toChris and Sandys garden in Aiken.

A business meeting included a report by

Jeanette Shumpert of the West Lowcoun-try Garden Club meeting that was held onMarch 28 in Aiken. Three of the membersattended Jeanette, Muriel Black and

Nancy Ballew.Preliminary plans were made for pro-

grams and hostesses for 2012 and 2013, afall bake sale and a Christmas party.

A plant exchange concluded the meeting.

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5/28


THIRD QUARTER HONOR ROLLSBusbee Corbett ElementaryMiddle students receive honors

Principals ListSixth through eighth grades: Cadena

Amaker, Brenna Kirkland, Daisy Young,Eboni Adams, Brianna Kirkland, PrestonRodgers, Tialeisha Corley and AmirahMiller

A/B Honor RollSixth through eighth grades: Zechari-

ah Brown, Kelsey Byars, Elisabeth Carter,

Joshua Cherry, Meagan Danley, Zacharyunbar, Wade Friday, Montasia Golson,

Shania Jackson, Meredith McCoy, ShelbyNisbet, Hank Poole, Dequan Robinson,Morgan Taylor, Tanner Turner, LaJavaWilliams, Kayleen Burton, Hayley Byars,Jayda Cannon, TaNauziah Corley, Ben-ie Davenport, Chevelle Duarte, Jaclyne

Fulmer, Glenn Gaskin, Morgan Gunter,Julissa Harvey, Jaeisha James, CarolinaLuarca, Robby McGee, Tessa Neely,Amanda Poole, Jayon Quattlebaum, Kim-

erly Rathburn, Karlee Scott, CameronShiffner, Tabbitha Stichert, Tamiya Ware,

Makayla Brooks, Alexander Bynem, Cam-eron Chandler, Erica Danley, Jordyn Dish-er, Morgan Foster, Courtney Gallagher,

Ryan Gallop, April Glover, Lexxis Landy,Jacob Yon and JaQuiel Williams

All AsFourth grade: Kaleb Shaw, Jordan

Baker, Stephanie Bell, Kaylin Hammondsand Lori Rhinehart; fifth grade: BrysonShealey

A/BFourth grade: Mallory Fortune, Jes-

sica Hudson, Philip Poole, Rachel Yon,

Ryant Argroe, Amanda Bolton, CharlesCarter, Reneisha Gleaton, Jacob McGee,Tori Rhinehart, Deneisha Clifton, JordanGambrell, Babrielle Golson, MaleahHicks, Shaquan Landy, Kyia Metcalf,Devin Vinson, Savahhah Williams,Alexix Autry, Davon Brabham, LoganRushton and Taunija Swedenburg; fifthgrade: JB Alger, Candace Amaker,Leroy Baker, Dylan Douglas, Tia Fulmer,Kayla Gallop, Camron Gunter, BrittanyHoward, Christian Miles, Gauge Neeley,

Zynavia Robinson, Keion Tyler and JadeYon

WAGENER-SALLEY WINS STATE AGRICULTURE MECHANICS CONTESTSUBMITTED ARTICLE

On March 31, Wagener-SalleyFFA members placed first in theState Agricultural Mechanics CareerDevelopment event held at ClemsonUniversity.

Contestants from across the statecompeted in arc welding, electricity,small engines carpentry and grainhandling and storage. A written testwas taken by all students as wellas hand-on activities testing theirknowledge on the above areas.

Wagener-Salley team memberswere Bobby Chavis, Harley Gallop,Grayson Joye and Trent Rushton.

Gallop was the highest scoringindividual on the written test, Joyewas the highest scoring welder andRushton was the highest scoringindividual in the Environmental and

Natural Resource area as well as theMachinery and Equipment Handlingareas. Rushton was the second high-est scoring individual in the contest.

The willing team will compete thisfall at the National FFA Conventionin Indianapolis, Ind. Congratulationto these Wagener-Salley FFA mem-

bers.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

WINNING FIRST PLACE: Pictured, from left, are Cody Bishop, State FFA Secretary, Grayson Joye, Bobby Chavis, Harley Gallop, Trent Rushton andFFA adviser Allen Williams.

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6/28


The wind is blowing, leaves are falling, fall isin the air,

Our wonderful God gives

me words to write. Heressome Id like to share.

When you look in a mir-

ror, theres a story told byyour face,

Sometimes you just stare,your mind takes you toanother place.

I always see the struggles

of my life, my face shows I

lived hard,God has taken away my addictions, His love

cant be bought with a credit card.Matter of fact, its flowing free, its yours if

you ask,Hell help you keep your life on tract, kinda

like his task.I was talking to my boy today, told him he

needed to contain his anger and rage,

Or he will do something stupid, go back toprison, spend his life in a cage.

Last time he was in, he was closer to God,

and read His book,Soon as he got out, the devil got back ahold of

him, He aint gave it another look.

Hes back to his old self, hustling, living on

the edge,Hope he keeps his cool back to the wall and

dont fall off of lifes ledge.Ill continue to pray for him every day, like

my Mom did for me,Maybe God will enter his heart before its too

late, so he can see.

Go through your day, think of others, always

try your best,Let God help you with your problems, trust in

Him, he will do the rest.

Brian is a miracle! He has recovered frommore than 20 years of abusing and being heavilyaddicted to several kinds of drugs and alcohol.God literally showed him the light on Oct. 31,2007. If you are interested in contacting Brian,his email address is [email protected].

BRIAN

WATTS

There is not one of us who does not value theinfluence of a loving mother. Unfortunately, some

are missing this blessing.Mothers Day is a special timeto bless the lady who has givenso much of herself. Some willbe able to do it personally; oth-ers will cherish her memory.

Please read what some havesaid about mothers.

Elizabeth Stone: Makingthe decision to have a childis momentous. It is to decideforever to have your heart gowalking around outside yourbody.

Washington Irving: A mother is the truestfriend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden,fall upon us; when adversity takes the place ofprosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our

sunshine, desert us; when troubles thicken aroundus, still she clings to us, and endeavors by her kindprecepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds ofdarkness, and cause peace to return to your hearts.

George Washington: My mother was themost beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I oweto my mother. I attribute all my success in life tothe moral, intellectual and physical education Ireceived from her.

Buddy Hackett: My mothers menu consistedof two choices: take it or leave it.

Calvin Rillin: There is only one pretty child in

the world, and every mother has it.Exodus 20:12: Honor your father and your

mother, so you may live long in the land the Lordyour God is giving you.

Proverbs 31:28: Her children rise up and callher blessed; her husband also and he praises her.

Super MomMom, youre a wonderful mother,So gentle, yet so strong.

The many ways you show your careAlways make me feel I belong.

Youre patient when I am foolish;You give guidance when I ask;

It seems you can do most anything;Youre master of every task.

Youre a dependable source of comfort;Youre my cushion when I fall.

You help in times of trouble;You support me whenever I call.

I love you more than you know;You have my total respect.

If I had my choice of mothers,Youd be the one Id select.

By Joanna Fuchs

Dont miss the opportunity to bless thatwoman who has been so faithful to you. Ladies,have a blessed Mothers Day. You deserve it!

Dr. Tommy Huddleston is transitional pastorof Berlin Baptist Church on Crossthorn Road.

He can be reached via email at [email protected] or at the office at (803) 564-6308.

DR. TOMMY

HUDDLESTON

Mom, the flag andMr. Jimmy Carl BusbeeBY JIM WESTColumnist

It all began in the spring and sum-mer of the mid-1950s when I wasust beginning to take notice of the

people and the community aroundme.

I was with my dad in a hardwarestore on Main Street in Wagener,listening to a conversation between

the owners of that store, Mr. Ed Westand Mr. Jimmy Carl Busbee. Theconversation involved Mr. Jimmytelling Mr. Ed that he couldnt dosomething a certain way because ifhe did the place might blow up!

When my dad heard that, he saidfor me to come on, that we weregoing home before the place didblow up!

My dad had been a combat engi-neer in World War II and was always

using dynamite to move rocks andstumps for people, and since thehardware store sold dynamite, I fol-lowed my dad right out the door!

Of course, nothing happened, but Iwill forever remember the remark by

r. Jim Busbee Youre going toblow us up, Ed!

Jimmy Carl Busbee will alwaysbe Mr. Jim to me. When someoneneeded the truth about their optionson most anything, they would always

find their way to Mr. Jims door. Hissly grin and understanding personal-ity always helped us with our prob-lems, personal or business, and if hegave us his word, we knew that thesituation was safe.

Mr. Jim served his country, and Ihave very fond memories of his workin our local VFW chapter. He wasalways concerned about the youngpeople of our area, and I guess thatis why he was totally involved with

education as a member of the Schooloard during the 1960s and 1970s.Mr. Jim always wanted to be sure

that our side of Aiken County gotthe funding it needed and that wewere well represented in all countyoffices. He encouraged people toget involved in their churches, theirpolitical parties and community orga-nizations.

Mr. Jim always led by example.e always told me not to expect the

impossible out of people, that every-one ought to serve their country, and

that ownership of small business wasa very difficult position in which tofind ones self.

Mr. Jims philosophy was thateveryone should see how the taxpay-ers money is spent, but we shouldalways remember that elected offi-cials will spend our money muchmore quickly than we might becausewe had to earn it before we spent it;they didnt! Mr. Jim was not anti-

government; he just wanted govern-ment officials to do what the taxpay-ers elected them to do.

Mr. Jims primary interest was toinsure a quality education for all ouryoung people, no matter what reli-gion, no matter what ethnic group, nomatter what race no matter what. Ifyou were going to have a quality life,you must have a good basic educa-tion.

Mr. Jim Busbee stood for and rep-

resented the good things in America freedom, civil rights, education,financial support of your familyand, most importantly, living a cleanmoral, Christian life as an examplefor the rest of us.

When I talked to Mr. Jim aboutadjusting to everyday life after theVietnam War and about the difficul-ties of small business and never hav-ing enough money for the bills, hereally listened. When I spoke with

him about school policies and howthey affected our families he under-stood. When I spoke with him aboutwho or what political party bestrepresented the future of America,he always gave me a hardy dressingdown about our responsibility to letour elected representatives know whowe are and what we expect of them.

Mr. Jim Busbee represented all thegood things our moms wanted us tobe kind, trustworthy, loyal, helpful,

friendly, clean and reverent.Oh, yes, I must not forget cheer-

ful. Ill miss that cheerful grin of his.He always knew I wanted somethingbefore I even sought it out clear,honest, helpful advice. He didnthave any other kind.

Thanks, Mr. Jim, for being myfriend, and many thanks for beinga personal hero to me. I feel sure Iam a better person for having knownyou.

Lest We Forget Jimmy CarlBusbee, Wagener, S.C.

A MOTHERS VALUE

ANOTHER PLACE


7/28



8/28


THE BLACK HISTORY PASTORS APPRECIATION PROGRAM

BY DEANNA MILLER

Brother Willie Stroman has a visionand were going to help him bring it to lifen this community, said Marlon Hudson.

Mr. Willie Stroman of Salley held thesecond Black History Pastors Apprecia-

tion Program at Busbee-Corbett Elemen-tary Middle School on Feb. 25.

The program brought pastors, ministers,

churches and members of the communitytogether to celebrate Black History Month.

There were a variety of performances,including miming by Adrian Ginyard &the Chapel Hill Baptist Church mimeteam, song selections by the Davis Sistersand Chalk Hill Baptist Church, poems by

Alana Stroman, Minister Jenkins and RoyKitt and a Martin Luther King tribute byMinister Casteal.

Tributes of Appreciation were alsogiven out to a couple who has been mar-ried for over 70 years and a retired schoolteacher.

The pastors in attendance were present-ed with certificates of appreciation andlove, as well as roses for their spouses.

Tamekia Porterfield said, I think theprogram really shows how much love thecommunity has in its churches and leaders

and I look forward to attending it againnext year.

Stroman started the program in 2011and expects to hold it every year untilhe is able to get every church pastor andcommunity members within the ruralareas to participate.

Black History month is once a year,but pastor appreciation should be everyday, he said.


9/28



10/28



11/28


12 COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN RESULTSEntries are listed with name, age, chip

time and clock time *

WagenerKrista Martin, 34, 1:02:59, 1:35:36Patricia Overholt, 30, 1:09:50, 1:50:16Wesley Overholt, 32, 1:00:33, 1:41:12Kyle Quill, 22, 1:02:09, 1:34:47Richard Swift, 56, 0:49:16, 0:54:45Sharon Swift, 50, 1:15:49, 1:56:39

Salley

Rebecca Rinehart, 25, 1:40:18, 2:12:28

* The chip time is measured from whenthe runner crosses the starting line to whenhe crosses the finish line.

The clock time is measured from whenthe race starts to when the runner crossesthe finish line.


12/28


WOMANS CLUB OF WAGENER SPRING TEA

From left, PauletteBolin, Kay Brodie,Emily Branch,Vernelle Caseyand Gloria Collum

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Front, Helen Jeffcoat,Amelia Henderson; back,Frances Tyler, MaradellaRay, Mary Lybrand,LeMyra Young and AnnieClyde Williams

Womans Club ofWagener members andguests enjoyed a SpringTea at Claridge House

Bed and Breakfast onMarch 19.

Family Day Fun Fest to be held on May 5The Crescent Cities Recreational Park Committee will present its

annual Family Day Fun Fest on Saturday, May 5, from 11 a.m. until

5 p.m. at Crescent Cities Park in Wagener. There will be fun andgames for everyone so come out and join us for a day of fun in thesun.

Meet & Greet with Deedee VaughtersThanks to all who attended the Meet & Greet held on Saturday,

April 21, at the Old Salley School Museum for Deedee Vaughters,candidate for State Senate District 26. We enjoyed sharing coffee,doughnuts and time with each of you.

W d d A il 25 2012 W M thl 13


13/28


Dear Friends:I begin with a big THANK YOU! I am

most grateful for theopportunity to serve the

nearly 40,000 residentsof S.C. House District86 which comprisesnearly two-thirds ofAiken County. Electionfiling ended recently;I am unopposed in theJune GOP primaryelection and no othercandidate has filed forthe November generalelection. It is an honor

o serve you in the S.C. House of Repre-entatives.

South Carolina isnt like Washington

In Washington, D.C., partisan bickeringseems to rule. In South Carolina, elected offi-cials know how to work together for betterand more efficient government. House Dem-ocrats and Republicans joined together in the

ouse of Representatives to unanimouslypass a state budget.

Be assured there were disagreements andmuch debate on how to wisely spend your taxmoney, but both sides came together to pass abalanced budget that falls well within the pro-posed cap on spending. It focuses on the corefunctions of government education, infra-structure and law enforcement, all of whichare vital to our states growing economy.

The spending plan also provides tax relief,pays off debt and replenishes the statesrainy day? reserve accounts.

Headlines from the $6 billion General

Fund appropriations: $152 million in additional funds for K-12sed in the classroom and not for educational

bureaucracy $180 million set aside to pay for S.C.s

share of the deepening of the Charleston Port,the major economic driver for South Carolina

$77 million in tax relief to employers ofall sizes to provide some relief from the highunemployment insurance costs caused by therecession

$549 million in tax relief; 88 percent

of which is property tax relief that must begranted annually if the relief is to remain Nearly $400 million to the Constitutional

and Statutory Reserves those funds go intoour savings account for the next economicdownturn The Rainy Day Fund.

The proposed budget bill is now in theSenate.

Saving the state ret irement system

Both Republicans and Democrats joined

together to pass historic reform to shore upthe states retirement system. It is a problem

that has been more than a decade in themaking. Without decisive action, the $13billion unfunded liability would double to$26 billion by 2041, threatening the finan-

cial solvency of the entire pension system.This problem isnt exclusive to those in thestate pension program. Many in the privatesector have seen their retirement savingsevaporate during the Great Recession.Any changes are upsetting to those countingon their pension. Its understandable that noone wants to lose benefits, but the proposedchanges are designed to have minimalimpact while avoiding a catastrophe.

The House solution:The retirement system reform bill will

save taxpayers $8 billion over the next 30years while slicing more than $2 billionfrom the retirement systems deficit. Thechanges affect the more than a half-millionmembers of the state retirement system andthe police officers retirement system. Thesechanges ensure the system will be there forstate retirees, while also ensuring the stateretirement system doesnt become a blackhole for taxpayers. Changes made to theplan include:

Employees will pay 1 percent more out

of their paychecks, with an additional 1 per-cent from the employers.

Employees will pay more to buy ser-vice time to retire early.

Employees cannot use vacation days,sick days or overtime pay to calculate retire-ment.

Benefits will be calculated using the lastfive years of salary, instead of three.

New hires will work 30 years beforethey are eligible for retirement, up from 28;police officers and firefighters can still retire

after 25 years. New hires are not eligible for the TERIprogram, which allows workers to retire andthen return to work while collecting benefits.

Lawmakers may not retire and drawbenefits while still serving in the Legisla-ture.

Legislators will also contribute an addi-tional 1 percent to the retirement system,raising their contribution to 11 percent annu-ally.

The bill now heads to the state Senate for

more debate and certain changes.

Other issues addressed

School Choice Approved for the FirstTime: It was eight years ago when the firstSchool Choice legislation was introduced inthe S.C. legislature. At last, a Choice bill hasbeen approved by the House on a vote of65-49. I helped lead the initiative that benefitsfamilies who want to educate their children asthey see fit in a private school or at home.

Education is not a one-size-fits-all proposi-tion; each child is educationally unique in

how they learn. In my view, this is not abattle between choice versus public educa-tion as opponents try to frame the argument;both have their place and both need support.

This is about doing whats best for educatingour children. This modest choice legislationfocuses on creating scholarships for low-income students. The legislation moves to theSenate.

Keeping Us Safe: Restaurant Carrylegislation was approved by the House ofRepresentatives; the vote was 82 to 3. Thisbill would allow those with a S.C. ConcealedWeapon Permit (CWP) to carry into restau-rants that serve alcohol as long as they dont

consume beer or booze. I am a sponsor ofthis legislation and spoke in favor of passageduring debate. Every law enforcement officerI have spoken to embraces the expansionof the CWP program because it makes law-breakers think twice not knowing where gunsare hidden.

Drug Testing Unemployed: The Housepassed a bill that would allow for someonecollecting unemployment to lose their bene-fits if they fail or refuse to take an employers

drug test. Employers may report such failuresto the states unemployment agency but arenot required to do so.

A Win for Farmers & Others: This maynot sound like a big deal, but if the Househadnt passed a bill giving relief to farmersand those who drive trucks or haul heavy

trailers, they would soon face huge fines. Ifthe feds had their way, farm trucks and equip-ment that move on S.C. roads and highwayswould have to be issued a DOT numberalong with all its requirements. The Housepassed H.4761 that provides relief to smallfarmers and others who drive trucks less than26,000 pounds. It exempts them from obtain-ing a DOT number and a medical health cardif their vehicle is driven only in South Caro-lina. This helps alleviate onerous governmentregulations.

War on Hogs and Coyotes: A bill is beingconsidered in the House that would invitehunters to use almost any means to stem theexpansion of wild hogs and coyotes in SouthCarolina. It allows for night hunting of hogs,coyotes and armadillos from March throughJune. It would allow hunting after dark andthe use of bait, lights and laser sights. Pro-ponents call it a war on hogs and coyotesand say they need to be minimized do to thethreat to crops, livestock and wildlife.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you.As always, I welcome your comments andsuggestions, dont hesitate to call or write.

S.C. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

REP. BILL

TAYLOR

14 Wagener Monthly W d d A il 25 2012


14/28


EASTER EGG HUNT


Wednesday April 25 2012 Wagener Monthly 15


15/28


EASTER EGG HUNT


16 Wagener Monthly Wednesday April 25 2012


16/28

Family ReunionDescendents of General Lee Jackson and

ula Mae JacksonDescendents of Calhoun Calvin Hucka-

beeDescendents Henry Payton and Brooksoon Payton (Father and mother of Rob-

ert P Payton)Robert P Payton 1879-1952 and Prim-

rose Hall Payton 1881-1935Descendents of Robert P Hall and Saraoon Hall (Father and mother of Primroseall Payton)

June 2, 2012 - 11am until???Plum Branch, S.C., Camp Ground at the

large covered pavilionBrenda (Jackson) [email protected](803) 663-7623 home(706) 830-8597 cell

Camping available with electric andwater hookup. Sites run between $15.25and $24.25 a night

Email [email protected] or (864)

443-3000 speak to Sharon or PaulaBring plenty of food, smiles, laughter,

and pictures to share. I will bring a scannerto scan any old pictures, and we can get

them emailed to everyone.There will be swimming (bring towels,

chairs), fishing (you must have a S.C. fish-ing license), games and a lot of fun.


SEEKING

DESCENDENTS

FOR FAMILYREUNION

Wednesday April 25 2012 Wagener Monthly 17


17/28


BY WES BOMMERColumnist

Spring is just around the corner. We

ave had some unusual early blooms,and Jack Frost took them away.

Hopefully, shortly the wild plumloom will begin and sustain, along

with the henbetin and mustard thatasnt frozen.Beginning beekeeping courses are

n full swing throughout the state. Stu-dents are pouring over the catalogs.Experienced beekeepers are workingwith them to ensure that they do notpurchase a lot that they do not need.

When their equipment arrives, theywill smell of glue and paint and willeagerly explain how they will assemblet. They will display it proudly waiting

for the day the bees arrive.The experienced beekeepers are say-

ng they are going to get on it, and aumber of them will show up with paint

on their hands when they pick up theirew bees.Mid-State Beekeepers picked up bees

n Georgia at the end March. The bees

arrived in a 3-pound package with aqueen.

Some queens were purchased with acolor dot.

Marked queens can make it easier tofind the queen, as well as track the ageof the queen.

Another big event that was recentlyheld was our spring meeting.

The spring meeting was held on thefirst Saturday in March in Columbia.

There were speakers who shared theirlatest research on honeybees and ven-dors with the latest in bee equipment.

There was also a book table withevery aspect of hive products and bee-

keeping.With the recent cold snap, beekeepers

are monitoring their hives to ensure thatthey will be in the best possible shapewhen the honey flow starts.

Hive strength is important due to thefact that a bee only makes 1/12th of ateaspoon of honey in their lifetime.

Recent research has linked pesticidesto many of the bee problems.

What can we do locally as homeown-ers and gardeners? Apply pesticides

only as specified by the label more isnot better.

Observe the safety precautions; somewill require chemical proof gloves for

the applicator.Locally, severn dust is a garden

staple. The dust is carried back on hairybodies of the pollinators killing themlater in the nest.

At this time, there are a number ofproducts on the market that are morepollina tor friendly such as Bonide Prod-ucts and Espoma Products.

Keep in mind that only three percentof insects seen in the garden are harm-ful to your plants.

It would be to an economical advan-tage to ensure that there are a damagingnumber of pests before applying pesti-cides.

Lesser numbers may just be pickedoff or knocked into a can of soapywater.

Wes Bommer is a Master Gardener,member of Wagener Garden Club and

president of Mid-State Beekeepers andthe State Beekeepers Association.

Aiken Skate Park competitionset for Wednesday, May 2nd

Ramps, rails, and pipes will be trans-formed from ordinary objects for fast-paced creativity and skills Wednesday,May 2, when the City of Aiken Parks,Recreation and Tourism Department

presents the Aiken Slam Jam Skate Con-test.

The contest will be held at the AikenSkate Park, located behind the H. OdellWeeks Activities Center from 2 to 5 p.m.

The band East from West will be per-forming during the event and drinks and

pizza will be for sale during the also.The pre-registration fee is $5, and thedeadline for pre-registration is May 1.Registration the day of the event will be$10. There is no admission fee and the

public is encouraged to come out andwatch.

Winners will have a chance to winwheels, skate tools, T-shirts and otheritems.

This event is sponsored by the Cityof Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Department.For more information, contact theWeeks Center at (803) 642-7631.

BRIEFLYBeekeeping with spring around the corner

Visit www.wagenersc.com throughout the month.



18/28


Lessons regarding Earth Daycan apply to investors, too

April 22 was Earth Day. Started in 1970

y Sen. Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day isdesigned to create awareness of the Earthsenvironment and to encourage conservationefforts. If you and your family participaten Earth Day events, such as helping to

clean up a local park or taking materials toa recycling center, you know the benefits ofdoing your part to improve your surround-ngs. But are you doing everything you can

to upgrade your environment for investing?Actually, as an investor, you can learn a

ot from the lessons of Earth Day. Here are

ust a few ideas: Diversify. If youre familiar with Earthay, you know that it involves multiple

ctivities, including educational programsnd do-it-now action steps. This varietys necessary because protecting our envi-onment is a complex challenge. Meetingour short- and long-term investment goalsan be challenging, too, but youll have aetter chance of success by diversifying

your investment dollars across a range ofvehicles, such as stocks, bonds, govern-

ent securities and certificates of deposit(CDs). Diversification can help reduce thempact of volatility on your portfolio andigh volatility can be an obstacle for some

people trying to follow an investment strat-egy. (Keep in mind, though, that diversifi-cation, by itself, cannot guarantee a profitor protect against loss.)

Seek growth opportunities. Somepeople plant trees on Earth Day, hopingto watch them grow over the years. As annvestor, you, too, need to plant seeds

today in the hopes of growth in the future.That means, among other things, that whenyou purchase growth-oriented investmentsfor the long term, you need to try to stick

with them and not uproot them aftershort-term declines in price.

Develop good habits. If you attend anEarth Day program, you will learn about

many eco-friendly habits you can develop,from using energy-efficient light bulbs torecycling old computers and other elec-tronic devices. To invest successfully, itsimportant to develop good habits, such asstaying invested in all types of markets,seeking tax-advantaged investments andreviewing your portfolio regularly to makesure its still appropriate for your risk toler-ance, time horizon and long-term objec-tives.

Avoid toxins. At some Earth Day

events, you can learn about green substi-tutes for toxic chemicals in common house-hold cleaners. When you invest, you mayalso want to avoid toxins or at leasttoxic behaviors, such as chasing afterhot stocks that are inappropriate for yourneeds or trading so frequently that you runup big fees, commissions and taxes.

Think long term. Above all else, EarthDay is a reminder that we all want to leavea healthy planet to future generations which means making moves that are ben-

eficial for the environment over the longterm. When you invest, you also need tofocus on the future. That means following along-term investment strategy and not get-ting sidetracked by short-term events, suchas political crises and economic downturns.

Earth Day comes once a year, but itslessons can have a lasting impact on ourenvironment. When you apply these samelessons to your own investment environ-ment, you may be able to achieve somehealthy results.

This article was written by Edward Jonesfor use by your local Edward Jones finan-cial adviser.

FINANCIAL FOCUS SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMThe Aiken Housing Authority is par-

ticipating in the Summer Food ServiceProgram.

Meals will be provided to all children 18

years old or younger without charge. Thetentative dates for the program are June11 through Aug. 3.

Meals will be provided at the followingsites:

1248 Crosland Drive, Aiken Salley Complex, 255 Poplar St., Salley Old Storm Branch Daycare, 163 Storm

Branch Road, Beech Island 512 Abney Place, Ridge Spring Ridgeview Manor Apartments, 419

Bradleyville Road, North Augusta

2121 Augusta Road, Gloverville Helping Hands, 100 John Elliot Lane,

Aiken 1398 Bell Drive, Beech Island Springside Apartments, 6018 Spring-

side Lane, Aiken 2516 Windsor Spring Road, Spring-

field 17 Converse Drive, Aiken; 1532 Col-

lenton Ave., Aiken Governor Acres Park, 213 Reid Street,

Aiken

329 Breeze Hill Road, Warrenville Boys and Girls Club, 640 Laurens St.

N.W., Aiken Divine Outreach Ministries, 12564

Atomic Road, Beech Island 433 Gregory Road, Aiken

Hahn Village, 100 Rogers Terrace,Aiken

Chalet North Court, 107 Chalet NorthCourt, North Augusta

New Hope Community, 168 Gregg St.,Graniteville

Just for Kids, 846 Edgefield Road,North Augusta

Stoney Gallman Townhomes, 153Sumter St., Aiken

1133 Austin St., North Augusta Brothers and Sisters, 132 York St.

N.E., Aiken Aiken County Recreation Center, 917

Jefferson Davis Highway, Graniteville 234 Locke Lane, Aiken

5078 Trotter Court, Jackson Crosland Activities House, 248 Cro-

sland Drive, Aiken Gravatt Camp and Conference Center,

1006 Camp Gravatt Road, Aiken Retreat Rehoboth, 40 Old Bath Road,

Bath Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, 400

Kershaw St. N.E., Aiken Summerfield Community Park, Old

Edgefield Road, North Augusta Shilo Heights, 522 Shilo Heights

Road, Aiken Oakwood Apartments, 222 Hailey

Stone Court, Wagener 106 Ashmore Drive, Beech Island Kellogg Apartments, 10 Creek Court,

Aiken

Are you bothered by someones drink-ng? How to recognize the effects of some-

one elses drinking in my life?Do you worry about how much someoneelse drinks?

Do you have money problems because ofsomeone elses drinking?

Do you tell likes to cover up for some-one elses drinking?

Do you feel that if the drinker caredabout you he/she would stop drinking toplease you?

Are plans frequently upset or canceledecause of the drinker?

Do you make threats such as, If youdont stop drinking, Ill leave you?

Are you afraid to upset someone for fearit will set off a drinking bout?

Have you been hurt or embarrassedbecause of someones drinking?

Do you search for hidden alcohol?Have you refused social invitations out

of fear or anxiety?Do you think that if the drinker stoppeddrinking, your other problems would besolved?

Do you feel like a failure because youcant control the drinking?

If you answered yes to any of these ques-tions, Al-Anon Family Groups may be ofhelp to you.

For local information, call Nancy B. at803-564-6487. Local meetings are Mon-days at 7 p.m. at Wagener United Meth-

odist Church, 153 Columbia Highway,Wagener.

AL-ANON

Starlight Cinemas Family Night Din-ner and a Movie presents Rio at CampGravatt on Friday, April 27.Dinner will

be served 6 from 7:30. Reservations andfees are required for dinner only or comeout just for the movie at no charge. Call642-7559 now through April 25 or visitwww.aikencountyprt.com.

Ages 13 and up $10Ages 12 and under $6Ages 3 and under freeFamily max price $35

Rio, the featured presentation, will beginat dusk. Rio presents a flavorful, family-friendly adventure that goes down in therichly beautiful and cultural setting of Riode Janeiro, Brazil.

Chalk-It Up Sidewalk Chalk Art Pro-

gram at Harrison-Caver Park, Saturday,April 28 at 10 a.m. Register by April 27

by calling (803) 593-4698 or visit www.aikencountyprt.com. Explore your creativeside at Harrison-Caver Parks very first

sidewalk art contest, Chalk It Up. Partici-pants can register at the park or the Aiken

Center for Exceptional Families; the fee is$5 per participant. Harrison-Caver Parks mile walking track will be sectioned offinto 4-foot by 4-foot squares that each par-ticipant will have 3 hours to decorate withtheir artwork. The grand prize is a free artlesson with local artist and Oil Originalsowner, Sharon Padgett. In honor of AutismAwareness, proceeds of the event will

benefit the Aiken Center for ExceptionalFamilies.

What Are Your Roots? The CourtneySenior Center in Wagener ContinuingGenealogy class, every other Tuesday at1 p.m. Tuesday April 17th, May 1st, May15th, May 29th June 5 & June 19th formore information on speakers and loca-tions. Call (803) 564-6149 or visit. www.aikencountyprt.com.

Community Yard Sale at the Courtney

Center in Wagener will be held on SaturdayMay 5, from 8 a.m. until noon. Reserve a

table to sell or stop in and shop. Call (803)564-6149 or www.aikencountyprt.com.

AIKEN COUNTY PRT EVENTS



19/28

Wed esday, p 5, 0 g y 9



20/28

y, p ,

Drop your whisks, grab your friendsand join us for a night of fun as theAiken Standardhosts the Taste of HomeCooking School show, presented live atthe USC Aiken Convocation Center onThursday, May 10.

During this interactive event, top culi-nary expert Michelle Roberts will dem-onstrate 10 new recipes you can recreatein your home.

Armed with new culinary tips andtechniques, youll be sure to impressyour family and friends with thesesophisticated yet easy-to-make dishes.

Not only will you leave the eventwith new recipe ideas, youll also gohome with a valuable gift bag. Our ever-popular gift bags include an assortmentof products and coupons, including twoTaste of Home magazines. While yourethere, remember to enter for a chance towin one of many exciting door prizes.

Two ticket levels are being sold, ForTaste of Home mega-fans a VIP ticketis available for $45. These are very lim-ited but give the ticket holder a custom

gift bag with a premium Taste of HomeCookbook, entry to the VIP event withour culinary expert and premium seating.General admission tickets are availablefor $10 and include a valuable gift bagstuffed with goodies and entry to thevendor fair.

Doors open at 3 p.m. for a vendor fairthat will feature 24 of the areas mostexciting businesses that will have give-aways and items for sale. The cookingbegins at 6:30 p.m. when Roberts will

prepare 10 fabulous dishes on stage.Think of it as a live version of a food TVshow.

For more information about the eventand how to purchase tickets, visit www.aikenstandard.com/tasteofhome orcall event coordinator, Dee Taylor, at644-2371.

STAFF REPORTS

Taste of Home Cooking School returns to Aiken May 10



21/28



22/28



23/28

The Aiken Leaderis a new newssource in the area.

Published by Andy OByrne,a Wagener resident and currentsecretary for the Aiken GOP, The

iken Leaderis based in Wagenerand is available to its readersonline.

OByrne did not return phonecalls or emails seeking comment.

Its website went live March 1,according to The Aiken Leaders

acebook page.Since its inception, The Aiken

eaderhas provided coverageof Aiken City and Aiken CountyCouncil meetings, Wagener TownCouncil meetings, Board of Edu-

cation meetings, Aikens TripleCrown, local sports, political

office filings, business openingsand JROTC barbecues.

Its website also offers opinionsand editorials, an event calendar,weather reports and a business-by-category search.

Online subscriptions are $20 peryear.

The Aiken Leaderposts newsupdates daily on its Twitter feed,www.twitter.com/#!/TheAiken-Leader.

Visit www.aikenleader.village-soup.com/ for more information orcall (803) 564-2099.

Haley Hughes is the AikenCounty government reporter andhas been with the Aiken Standard

since February 2007. Hughes,a graduate of Middle Tennessee

State University, hails from Knox-ville, Tenn.

BY HALEY [email protected]

iken Leadernow

available on web

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24/28

If I could say to you, and make it stick,A girl in a red hat, a woman in blueReading a letter, a lady weighing gold

If I could say this to you so you saw,And knew, and agreed that this wasow it wasIn a lost ci ty across the sea of years,I think you should be for one momentappyIn the great reckoning of those little

rooms -Howard Nemerov, Vermeer from

Trying Conclusions: Old and New Poems

My family, like many families in South

Carolina, went to the beach every sum-mer.

When my son was4 years old, I tookhim to the ocean oneday when the sea wasrough and the windwas blowing. I shouldnot have been near theocean that day becauseof the choppy water,but I was 28 and still

fearless.I had a number of

children in my cus-ody that hot June afternoon, and we allecided to ride the waves into shore. Theea was so strong that I actually wentnder and scraped the bottom, bruisingot only my nose but my ego.After everyone had risen from theater, my son was nowhere to be seen!or a split second, I panicked, and myyes searched down the shoreline as

he tide had taken us farther down fromhere we had gone in.I reached down and grabbed my sons

eg and quickly pulled him to the sur-ace. He was laughing! I was a basketase and plopped down in the shallowater and tried to wash off my fear.Soon a comforting peace came overe, and, right then and there as the

hildren retreated to the beach to play, Iaised myself to my knees and thankedod for my son, my life, the sky, the sea,

he earth and, most of all, to the familyf man who believed in a God so giving

and forgiving.I was in Clemson visiting my sonhen I received a call that three people Inew had died the day before. The mostevere shock came when I learned that aery good friend of mine had put a guno his head and pulled the trigger.

My friend walked in this world and,ust like the rest of us, put one foot inront of the other only sometimes glanc-

ng behind him as if someone was fol-

lowing him. He loved the summer andreveled in jumping in the crisp, coldcreek that ran alongside his property.

He loved old movies and the theater

and had a good singing voice. In earlieryears, he had sung in community cho-ruses and at weddings and funerals.

He had an affinity for caring for theelderly and, in his 40s, had made his loveof senior citizens his vocation. He builta goldfish pond by his home, plantingwater lilies and dwarf mango trees andconstructed a bench on which he wouldsit for hours gazing at the plump goldfishwhich swam around lazily in the wateryoasis.

This man who would give someone hislast dollar if they needed it had surviveda fiery fire which had engulfed his trailerin 2010, and he had recovered from thepain and anguish of a brother who hadbeen murdered violently, but he couldnot recover from the loneliness and therumors of a phantom lifestyle which cir-culated in the community.

He could not recover from the loss ofa job which was basically his life andthe financial strife that came along with

it. He could not recover from the sheerurgency to end the pain of the hope thathad evaporated into a single thought anda solitary act.

When I heard the news of my friendsdeath, I cried, and then I felt guilty thatI had not stopped it. I was not mad athim for leaving, I was mad at him for notcalling, for not giving me the chance tosave his life, for not saying goodbye. Imiss my friend!

My friend had laughed, cried, loved

and dreamed of a future. He looked atthe world through rose-colored glassesand only saw the good in people; like achild learning to walk, he was learningto cope.

His family had a private funeral forhim, and, at the time he was being placedin the ground, I drove to the beach, andit was dark and cloudy and reminded meof that day 33 years earlier when I hadpulled my child from the ocean.

I waded out waist deep in the water,

and, as the sea swirled around me, Ithought of my friend and realized thatI could have never saved him, I couldhave never grabbed and pulled him fromthe depths the tide was too strong, thewind too severe, the storm to unrelent-ing.

As the sun started to go down, I madeit back to shore and hoped that he hadrepented and in that instant had given hislife to Jesus. Once again, I prayed thatGod would be forgiving.

I will forever be troubled by water.

WILLIAM

WELSH

RIPTIDE WAGENER UMC EASTER EGG HUNT

SUBMITTED PHOTO

An Easter Egg Hunt was held at the WagenerUnited Methodist Church on March 31. Thebad weather was finished in the morning andcleared up nicely so the eggs were hiddenand the kids with their families arrived! TheEaster story was told to the children and theirfamilies in the church sanctuary by PastorScott Smoak. Everyone was treated to jellybean-topped cupcakes and drinks. The storywas told to the children about the Jelly BeanPoem, which explains what the colors meanin regards to the Easter story. The children

searched for the eggs hidden in the churchlawn and bushes and were awarded prizes. Allof the children received a gift upon departure.



25/28

OBITUARIES

Chase Alexander Ray JonesOctober 18, 1991 April 19, 2012WAGENER Mr. Chase Alexander Ray Jones, 20, entered into rest Thursday, April 19,

012. Chase is survived by his mother, Joyce Jo Branch and stepfather, Jerome Jerryranch; his father, Sean Jones and stepmother, Connie Jones; his brothers, Christopher(Bub) and Denise Heironimus and Devin (Little Man) Jones; his grandparents, Marjo-ie Lambert, Diane and Dave Judy, Emily Branch and William Jones; great-grandmother,

Mary Ray; his nephew, Josh Heironimus; his great-niece, Braelyn Heironimus; his stepfa-ther Jerry Viita; numerous uncles, aunts and cousins, as well as his favorite uncle RonFranklin and Papa Miller. Chase is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Pressley Lam-ert and Jerry Granddad Viita, and great-grandfather Huger Ray Sr. Chase was a member

of Ferndale Baptist Church. He graduated Wagener-Salley High School in 2011 where hewas a member of the Army JROTC. The funeral service was Monday, April 23, at 3 p.m. atWagener United Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott Smoak officiating. Terry Morrisonand Sgt. Major Michael Fowler assisting. The Wagener-Salley Army JROTC Cadets served

as active and honorary pallbearers. Interment was in the Wagener Cemetery. The familyequests that, in lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Wagener-Salley JROTCooster Club at P.O. Box 667, Wagener, SC 29164 or FOTAS Animal Shelter at P.O. Box207, Aiken, SC 29802 (fotasaiken.org).

Richard Pete Laverne GarrickFebruary 8, 1941 April 15, 2012PERRY Mr. Richard Laverne Pete Garrick, 71, went home to be with the Lord Sunday,

April 15, 2012. Mr. Pete is survived by his sisters; Mildred Smith and Frances (Roy) Smith,and nieces and nephews. Mr. Pete was born in Aiken County son of the late Richard Allenand Alma Huckabee Garrick. He was also predeceased by his wife; Louise Rushton Poole

Garrick and sister; Shirley G. Mack. Mr. Pete was a member of Dean Swamp Baptist Churchand was employed by Salley Manufacturing Co. for 38 years. Graveside services were heldon Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. in the Clinton United Methodist Church Cemetery withthe Rev. Henry Cooper officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be madeto Gethsemane Baptist Church at 655 Hammond Cross Road, St. Matthews, SC 29135.

Fulmond Sonney Boy JacksonAugust 19, 1958 March 28, 2012Mr. Fulmond Jackson, 53, a resident of Wagener, peacefully entered into eternal rest at

Azalea Woods Nursing Home, Aiken, South Carolina, Wednesday, March 28, 2012, afteran extended illness. Mr. Jackson, was the son of the late Mr. Robert Lee Jackson, and Mrs.

Heniretta Robinson Jackson. He was born August 19, 1953 in Orangeburg County, SouthCarolina. He was a member of Flora Branch Baptist Church, North, South Carolina. Heattended the public schools in Orangeburg County in 1971 he graduated from Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School. He served in the United States Army from 1973 to 1976. Mr.Fulmond was joined in holy matrimony to Patricia Ann on October 23, 2004. They sharedtheir love for each other. In their union of love they raised two children, Ladebra N. Tylerand Jason Ty Williams, along with his grands, Raquavious J. Tyler, KeyDachia, AJaya,TyKerria Seawright and Tavarus Rowe. Papa loved sitting in his chair holding Jet, Lele,

azhia, Tye-Tye and Boo-Boo. He enjoyed telling them stories about his life and what hesed to do. He told them dont you forget what I told and taught you and always remember

that I love you . Also, with much love to a special son and friend, Kendall L. Seawright.

Sibyl Wooten PadgettWEST COLUMBIA Graveside service for Sibyl Wooten Padgett, 93, of West Colum-

ia were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Greenlawn Memorial Park. ThompsonFuneral Home of West Columbia is assisting the family. Mrs. Padgett, beloved wife ofthe late Otis W. Padgett, passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Born in Aiken County,she was the daughter of the late Willie Albert Wooten and Hassie Baughman Wooten. Shegraduated from Wagener High School and Columbia Commercial College. She was a mem-er of Green Hill Baptist Church in West Columbia. She retired in 1981 from First Citizensank after many years of devoted service. Surviving is her sister, Leola (Pope) Cook of

Aiken, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, ClancyWooten Albrecht; brother, Rudolph Wooten; and special pets, Terry, Sarge and Sandy. Thefamily would like to express special thanks to the staff of Pepperhill Nursing Home, espe-cially the staff of the Blue Wing.



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OBITUARIESRuth Ware Stroman

October 3, 1932 April 8, 2012Mrs. Ruth Stroman, 79, the daughter of the late Annie Tyler Ware and Frankie Ware, was born

October 3, 1923, in Aiken County.Ruth joined the Sardis Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. She attended the AikenCounty Public Schools. She did domestic work for many years and was a homemaker.

On Sunday, April 8, 2012, Ruth, a resident of Perry, entered into eternal rest. She was precededn death by her husband, Mr. Johnny Albert Stroman and three siblings, one brother, Mr. Lonnie(Rosalee) Ware and two sisters, Mrs. Christie Bell (Jessie) King and Mrs. Rosalee (Joe) Randolphof Charleston, South Carolina.

Those left to cherish her loving memory include: three daughters, Pansy (Lewis) butler,Wagener, SC, Betty Desle, and Brenda Stroman of Aiken, SC; three sons, Lowman Stromanof Aiken, SC, Flinzie Stroman of Detroit Michigan, and Albert Stroman of Perry, SC. She waspreceded in death by two sons, John Stroman of Perry, SC and Robert Stroman of Detroit, Mich.,0 grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Services for Mrs. Ruth Stroman were held on Thursday, April 12, at 3 p.m. at the Sardis Mis-ionary Baptist Church, 265 Walnut St. E., Salley, with the Rev. Jimmy R. Wise officiating.ommittal services were held following the homegoing services at the Christian Hill Cemetery,alley.

Margaret Calvert ShealyApril 23, 1921 April 11, 2012COLUMBIA Margaret Calvert Shealy, a resident of Columbia and widow of Harry E.

Shealy, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 11, 2012 in Charleston, SC.Funeral services were held on Friday, April 13, 2012, at noon in Greenlawn Memorial FuneralHome Chapel, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Interment followed in Greenlawn

Memorial Park.Mrs. Shealy was born in Enoree, SC, on April 23, 1921, the daughter of the late Guy Archibaldand Claudia Montjoy Calvert.

She was married in Columbia, SC on Oct. 11, 1940, to Harry Everett Shealy for 50 years beforee passed away on Dec. 25, 1990. She was a member of Kilbourne Park Baptist Church where

she served as a prayer intercessor, a Sunday school teacher, a Bible study leader and on numerouscommittees. In addition, she was employed as the church secretary at Kilbourne Park from 1958ntil her retirement in 1990 and also sold real estate with her husband. Following her retirement,

she was a volunteer at the Baptist Hospital in Columbia.She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved the Lord, her

family, her church, and her many dear friends. After becoming home-bound, she enjoyed watch-ng televised church services, reading her Bible, and praying for her family and friends.

Mrs. Shealy is survived by sons, Harry E. Shealy Jr., Ph.D., and his wife Margaret of Aiken, SC,and Gerald J. Shealy, M.D., and his wife Donna of Charleston, SC; daughter, Kaye Jordan and herusband Whit of Vienna, VA; eight grandchildren, Beth Garrick, John Shealy, Anna (Bill) Smith,

Kate (Legare) Smith, Ellen Shealy, Scott (Misty) Jordan, Joshua (Kelli) Jordan, and Brett (Megan)Jordan; and nine great-grandchildren, Jack and James Garrick, Shea and Susannah Smith, and Will,Andrew, Jack, Brady, and Katherine Jordan. Her sister, Dianne Lemacks of Wagener, and brother,

on Calvert of Greenville, also survive her. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry EverettShealy; 3 brothers: Guy, James and Ted Calvert; one sister: Winifred Calvert.

Memorials may be made to the Harry E. Shealy Sunday School Class at Kilbourne Park Bap-tist Church, 4205 Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29206 or the First Baptist Church, TelevisionMinistries, 1306 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR,INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. A memorial message may be written to the family by visitingour website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.

Johnny JohnsonWAGENER Johnny Johnson, 63, of 287 Holley Street, Wagener, died Thursday, April 19,

012, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at Saronaptist Church, Wagener. Burial will be in the church cemetery.Mr. Johnson was born to the late Heyward Johnson Sr. and Ada Bettis Johnson. He was a

graduate of Ridge Hill High School in Ridge Spring, SC.Survivors include his wife, Essie Lou Ashley Johnson; sons, Daniel Lott, Damion Lott,

Jerome Johnson, Johnny Johnny Jr. and Dennis Kitchings Jr.; daughters, Chonte Lott, EmmaJohnson and Iwartha Kitchings; brothers, Heyward Johnson Jr., Horace Johnson, Peter Johnsonand Wymond Brooks; sisters, Mary Walker and Lutricia Coleman.

Tobin Funeral Home, 106 Wagener St., Salley, SC 29137 (803) 258-1080


CADETS


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Both students found a home in ROTC,which had become among the most suc-cessful Army high school programs in thecountry, said Principal Pat Keating. Rayserved as the drill team captain and shareda national award in 2011. Williams wasselected the executive officer for 2010-11and put the rifle team on the map severalyears ago.

Chase was going to be successful in anyendeavor he chose, said Keating. He hadthe discipline and dedication it took him toe successful in ROTC and the drill team.Yet Ray initially didnt appear to be inter-

sted in ROTC when he enrolled at Wagen-

r-Salley as a ninth-grader, Fowler said.Then halfway through the year, Chase

ust walked out to drill practice and asked ife could get a rifle, he said. He just stood

off to the side and starting spinning the rif le.From that point on, he didnt stop. After a

onth or two, I just came out and asked himto make it official and join the team.

During the awards banquet last spring,Fowler told that inspirational story to thefreshmen. By then, they knew how Ray andcadet and friend Dillon Overton had trav-

eled to the National All-Services drill meetfeaturing 119 schools, of which Wagener-Salleys ROTC program was by far thesmallest. Ray and Overton teamed on theduo with arms competition and finishedfifth in the nation.

We always had a core group with thedrill team, Fowler said. They did every-thing together and were really just brothers

something you dont see that often.Williams, all 100 pounds of her, perhapsight have been especially unlikely to

become a solid rifle team member, yet hercontribution went far beyond that, said Joye,the rifle team coach.

Every great team gets started with anindividual, and that was Amber, he said.She was our first cadet to compete at thenational level, doing so the last two years.

In 2010, Williams, the team captain,finished 35th in the country at the ArmyJROTC Service Championships in Ohio.She had qualified by earning the highestscore by a South Carolina high school cadetduring an earlier contest.

Last year Williams competed in theNational Army JROTC event and the U.S.

Army Marksmanship Championships.She was our first cadet ever to earn

the Distinguished Shooting Medal, Joye

said. Amber set the stage for our shootingprogram.

Senior writer Rob Novit is the AikenStandards education reporter and has beenwith the newspaper since September 2001.

He is a native of Walterboro and majored injournalism at the University of Georgia.

CADETSCONTINUED FROM 1

AIKEN STANDARD FILE PHOTO

Chase and Amber have been like a son and daughter for the sergeant major (Michael Fowler, bottom right) and me, said Col. Maxie Joye,front left. Chase Ray, top middle, and Amber Williams, bottom, second from left, are pictured with the rest of the Wagener-Salley Army JROTCclass in 2010. Please continue to pray from Amber, said her mom, Carol Williams. She has a long recovery ahead.

Mrs. LaBine our very best.I have received many calls about the

progress of the water system work onHighway 39, McDuffie and Highway302. Work was halted on this project

as a result of another added require-ent or change order, issued by the S.C.epartment of Transportation offices in

Columbia. It seems someone felt a needfor addition support and protection of thewater line to be placed beneath WarnerStreet. This has resulted in much delayand additional costs, but I think all docu-

ents are complete, and work shouldegin again very shortly. Personally I can-ot explain the need, but can only guess its relative to the heavy traffic volume on

Warner Street.

This time of year many wild animalsbecome more active and chances increasethat they may wander into populatedareas. This may include, but not limitedto fox, raccoon, opossum and possiblyarmadillos. There have been several con-firmed cases of rabies in South Carolinarecently, and a couple of reports locally ofraccoons that appeared impaired or sick.If you encounter any wild animals use

extreme caution by keeping children, petsand yourself away, and notify Town hallor Aiken County Animal Control

Also, this is the season honeybees formnew colonys and leave their hive to relo-cate. You may see a large number of beesswarming or hanging from a bush ortree limb. Normally these swarms are notaggressive but will sting, again use cau-tion and stay away. Please call Town Hallas we have agreements with several bee-keepers that maybe helpful in removing

the swarm safely.

MAYORCONTINUED FROM 1



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Wagener Monthly - April 2012

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