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The following is a WGOG Editorial. Your response is
welcome. You may mail your response to WGOG, P.O. Box 10, Walhalla, SC.,
29691 or fax to 638-6810, or email gary@wgog.com.
WGOG's
Editorial Staff:
Gary Butts
Dick Mangrum
Peter Kent
WGOG
EDITORIALS
Editorial 5/8/08 -
“Culture of Philanthropy”
Even in
tough financial times, a culture of philanthropy is being formed in Oconee
health care circles----and it amounts to millions of dollars worth of
pledges and contributions to the county’s top medical care projects.
Jeremy
Wright says by tradition, fundraisers in Oconee County have normally been
galas, bake sales, and golf tournaments. But the Oconee Memorial Hospital
Foundation, which Wright chairs, is changing that.
From those
with the true altruistic spirit, the Foundation solicits pledges and
contributions to help pay for the community’s biggest health care projects.
And it is succeeding.
While it is
true, the Foundation may be behind in its goals, what the fundraisers have
accomplished is certainly remarkable in our lagging economy.
So far, the
Foundation has raised 2.75 million dollars for the patient tower and
4.2-million for the Hospice House.
And Wright
is looking long term. Beyond the opening of the tower of patient rooms and
the completion of a second addition to the Hospice House, Wright says, the
Foundation has its eyes on creating an endowment of one million dollars by
the year 2015---an endowment that, when invested, can earn Oconee Medical
Society 50 thousand dollars a year in interest.
Wright
calls it a “culture of philanthropy.”
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
Editorial 5/1/08---Sane,
reasoned discussions
Election
year or not, Frank Ables is to be congratulated for spreading the word about
what Oconee County government has up its sleeve. You can draw the inference
that the recent public meeting at Fair Play Youth Center about the proposed
zoning enabling ordinance was an orderly discussion of whether government
regulations of land and buildings would a good thing for the southern end of
the county. Then, consider that the earlier countywide public hearing went
without major incident, you have two beneficial meetings in a row. My, how
things have changed in Oconee County.
What we
liked especially about the Fair Play meeting was that the crowd, though
concerned, seemed open-minded and willing to learn why the county thinks
that the community would be a good spot for an effort at citizen-initiated
zoning. Fair Play residents also learned about the county’s intent to
development highway 59 into a second industrial park.
A telling
moment at the meeting may have occurred when a woman in the back explained
that one of her joys about living the country life in Fair Play is to sit
outside at night and watch the sky. As someone who lives next to the Fair
Play Commerce Park, she’s worried that what goes in there will come with
night lights. We liked the quick response she got from county administrator
Dale Surrett who indicated that that is something that can be negotiable.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
Editorial 4/247/08 "The Retirement of Ed Taylor"
You just have to look at Seneca and Walhalla high schools to find a couple of
the most successful athletic coaches anywhere. The School Board this week
honored Lady Bobcat coach Amanda Holder for state titles and those 600
basketball victories. The talk is Holder is nearing retirement.
Our purpose
today is to remember a coach who is already on his way to the sidelines. After
23 years, Ed Taylor is giving up head baseball coaching duties at Walhalla.
It seems like
just yesterday Taylor was a young man at the start of something
special—something that would amount to 300 victories. He marvels over how time
flew by. But he’ll tell you that it has been fun and, for his success, he
credits the players.
It was fun for
us to be at the microphone to cover some of Ed Taylor’s better teams. The 1992
team was the most successful, finishing second in South Carolina 2-A, second
only to the Bamberg-Ehrhart team powered by future Major Leaguer Preston Wilson.
In our farewell
interview with him, Taylor showed a keen memory for players, teams, seasons, and
even plays that decided a game. But he also regaled us with a reminder about a
snake that invaded our broadcast booth one time---something we had long ago
forgotten.
That’s our
view. What’s yours
Editorial 4/17/08 “The Redneck Dictionary”
One of my favorite gifts this past Christmas was a copy
of the New York Times bestseller, “Jeff Foxworthy’s Redneck Dictionary”. You
heard me right, New York Times bestseller! It’s Foxworthy’s alphabetical list
of words you thought you knew the meaning of. But as he explains in the book’s
preface, early in his career, people in New York, L.A. and Chicago, made fun
of the words he used in everyday conversation. That’s when Foxworthy began to
realize there were actual real words that he and his family and friends used
in a totally different way than Webster intended.
Now we’re not trying to help Foxworthy sell his book.
He’s done quite well with that already. We just thought you might enjoy, and
perhaps even relate to, a sampling of his Redneck references!
Take the word, mayonnaise. Used in a sentence, it might
go like this…”Mayonnaise a lot of people here tonight”. Or, the word, banner,
might be, “His grandma cusses so much, they’re gonna banner from the Little
League Park.” Last but not least, debate….as in, “Everytime we go fishing we
end up arguing about what to use for debate.”
We’ll stop there. By the way, this editorial is not meant
to condone or condemn the Southern dialect. It’s just a lesson in what some
consider an entirely different language. And as Jeff Foxworthy himself said,
“Speaking Redneck is a heck of a lot easier than speaking French.”
That’s our view point. What’s your’s?
April 10, 2008
Editorial April 10,
2008---“Can’t We All Get Along?”
Do you
remember the question Rodney King asked after being pummeled by some Los
Angeles policemen? His question was, “Can’t We All Get Along?”
We
think of that question when it comes to one of the more divisive issues
in these Oconee County contemporary times. Unfortunately, the proposal
that Oconee County create, in a few instances, overlay zoning districts
and to permit, in other areas, citizen-initiated zoning divides many of
our good friends and neighbors.
But
here’s hoping that Tuesday’s hearing is peaceful and beneficial to
everyone who must decide whether the time is right for government to
regulate land and buildings across our beautiful county. If there’s no
name-calling and no outlandish statements, then maybe all sides can
emerge with a better understanding of what’s at stake.
Our opinion is that, at
least, in certain parts of Oconee zoning would help. Yet, we appreciate
the fear of some county residents who believe government is overly
intrusive.
We’re
all aware of the opinions of those pro and con, but what about those who
express no view, who do not speak out in public. Are they the silent
majority in this? And might their attitudes help determine? While we
are weary of sending every issue to the ballot box, we go back to Neal
Workman’s idea for a referendum. Why not let a vote of the people
settle this?
That’s
our view. What’s yours?
Editorial---We’ve lost
“The Greater Good”
Is
there a word or a phrase in the English language that fits when you hear
someone say just what you were thinking? Perhaps what you hear is
something you agree with but haven’t been able to call up the right
words.
It
happened to us the other day when we were struck by something Dr. Ronnie
Booth said at a meeting of the Oconee Economic Development Commission.
The dialogue pertained to government’s task to serve the people and the
obstacles in the way. Booth, president of Tri-County Technical College,
drew on a life’s experience to comment that part of the problem is that
the populace has lost its virtue of sacrifice for the greater good. We
tend to think of ourselves a lot more than we used to help our less
fortunate brothers and sisters. Yes, Virginia, this is no longer
Kansas. Something has pierced thru the American spirit.
While
we are congratulate Dr. Booth for nailing it, may we rejoice over a
jewel the sports world can claim. Some of Pittsburgh-based Beano Cook’s
comments on ESPN always seem right on. For instance, did you catch
Beano when he was pontificating about who should have been included in a
list of the top all-time men’s collegiate basketball players. Some
people believe Bill Walton outranks Bill Russell, but not Beano. In
fact, Beano says on any list, Russell should be number two. Can you
guess who Beano ranks as number one any list? FDR. That is, the
four-term president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, credited with leaving
this country out of its worst financial crisis ever.
That’s
our view. What’s yours?
Editorial---What’s Wrong with
2010?
Imagine two
years into the future. Doesn’t sound like a long way off. The year is 2010
and, if the hunch of some observers plays out, the young Third District
Congressman who used to sell furniture in Westminster is giving up his seat in
Washington for a run at South Carolina Governor.
But, let’s also
imagine that in the November election that year, Oconee leaders propose a
proposition that the public accept one more penny on the local sales to create
millions of dollars for badly needed projects that regular Oconee tax payments
just don’t meet.
Our drift is
that 2010 is a better time for one percent than 2008. It’s an idea we picked up
from county Capital Projects commissioner Sam Dickson who, earlier this month,
wondered aloud whether eight months is enough time for all the work needed to
research a one percent proposition and to adequately place the issue before the
public. And, if fellow commissioner Julian Stoudemire, is correct when he
describes Oconee as a “reactive” county---not “pro-active,” then two years time
would be welcome to adequately position the next one percent vote.
But naysayers
to this line of thought say why delay. The county’s major needs aren’t going
away. They shouldn’t have to wait. It will cost more to wait. Yes, we agree.
But this November, from what we can tell now, the voters are going to have much
on his mind as he closes the voting booth curtain. They must decide whether to
vote for a president who is going to bring the troops home or a president
committed to making Iraq safe. The cost of living, of course, will be part of
it.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
March 20, 2008
Editorial---This Maddening
Rush to Economic Development
Few Oconeeans
have their pulse on the heartbeat of the county any better than Julian
Stoudemire. As an attorney, he has spent a lifetime representing many of our
citizens, many of whom seek his help at their lowest moments. And his work as
city attorney, city judge, and service as Walhalla also put him in the
mainstream with the public. Maybe that’s why when Stoudemire speaks about the
mood and the plight of the average Oconeean, officialdom should take not.
His comments
at the organization meeting of the county Capital Projects Commission are
instructive. Stoudemire questions whether November 2008, given the mood of
the electorate, is the right time to again place a sales tax increase
proposition before the voters. In recent years, two similar propositions
failed at referendum. But this time, perhaps more than any other, there is
greater unrest about the cost of life’s necessities---gas, health insurance
and, oh yes, the billions spent in Iraq. If Stoudemire’s hunch is correct,
then November will see unprecedented voting numbers---many first time voters.
And the question, of course, is to what extent will those voters be motivated
by a distaste by what is happening in the United States?
So, would any
or all of this bode well for a proposition to ask the Oconeean to accept
another penny on the sales tax for worthwhile public benefit projects---such
as a new library or a recreation center?
We, like Mr.
Stoudemire, are wondering.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
March 13, 2008
Editorial---Has the election
process lost something?
It may be the
law, but we don’t have to like it!
The Seneca
election has reminded us that un-opposed ballot candidates may have their names
deleted from the ballot and automatically go back into office, as long as one
important provision is met. And that is that no one officially announces as a
write-in during a period following the end of regular candidate qualifying.
We appreciate
the argument that this can be a money-saver, especially for a small government
with little revenue. And we understand that this eliminates the possibility
that, where voting rolls are small, of a conspiracy of individuals who collude
to put their guy in without the rest of the voters knowing anything about it.
Still we have a
concern. And it’s that period of time between the end of write-in ballot
qualifying and the actual election day. What if during that period the one
candidate for office is revealed as an incompetent or worse. There seems no
recourse to right a wrong.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
March 6, 2008
Editorial-- Wayne Morton's
Golden Mic Award
It's always nice when "one of your own" is recognized in a special way.
Such is the case with the host of WGOG's Golden Corner Morning Show Monday
through Friday, and Sunday's Golden Corner Gospel program, Wayne Morton.
Wayne was recently honored with the Singing News Magazine's Golden Mic
Award...
"Chosen by a panel of Singing News and Southern Gospel music radio
executives, Singing News presents 'The Golden Mic' monthly to
broadcasters who display excellence and dedication to Southern Gospel music,
church work and their communities. Based on such criteria, it's doubtful
a more deserving DJ could be chosen than the March 2008 recipient, Wayne
Morton.
Wayne's professional, evangelistic and personal background is impressive.
He has had experience in radio, television, newspaper, magazine, and other
media outlets for the past 38 years, and he is currently the operations
manager and morning show host at WGOG and co-hosts "Golden Corner Gospel" each
Sunday.
A Walhalla native and Westminster High School graduate, Wayne has been married
almost 40 years to the former Donna Cox. He and Donna have two
daughters, three grandchildren, and have a fourth grandchild on the way.
Wayne is also an ordained minister and has worked as a military and volunteer
hospital chaplain.
Congratulations, Wayne, we appreciate your hard work and dedication.
February 28, 2008
Editorial---New blood means
new life for Oconee Aeronautics
For decades
Oconee’s airport near Clemson has been a whipping boy---used as an example of
a wrongheaded way to spend valuable tax dollars. It has been seen as
recreation for a select number of people able to afford an expensive hobby.
But that may be changing.
County
leaders recognize the economic value of having a well run airfield that can
accommodate flights by executives of Oconee’s manufacturing sector. And
better a well run, attractive airport can help sell the county to outsiders to
invest here.
Through the
years, we haven’t heard a lot from the airport. But that may change. There’s
a new chairman of the Oconee Aeronautics Commission and two new members. And
they are making some noise to indicate it won’t be business as usual.
Dan Suddeth
of District Two is one of those new members. And he would like a more active
commission---a better educated commission about airport matters and better
able to advise the county administrator and the county council.
Airport
manager Kevin Short also feels a wind change. Traditionally, Short and his
predecessors have set meeting agendas with business the airport manager
believed the commissioners should transact. Now Short is inviting the new
chairman, Tom Luke, and the rest of the commission to write the meeting
agendas.
We see that
as more inclusive, a good thing.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
February 14, 2008
Editorial---Litter Survey This
Saturday
How does our
county look when it comes to litter? Is there less than before? Volunteers
with Keep Oconee Beautiful Association will set out this Saturday for various
spots around the county to gauge the problem.
Phil Soper,
“KOBA” president, says this kind of survey is something done every year, at the
request of the national group Keep America Beautiful. And Soper says each time
the surveyors notice an improvement.
We hope that is
true.
Keep Oconee
Beautiful can stand some help. If you’d like to volunteer for this Saturday’s
survey, contact Nicci Hanewald at 985-8904 or
nicolehanewald@bellsouth.net
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
February 7, 2008
Editorial---It Was Too Good to
Be True
David Smith has
Gone Green in Westminster. A recommendation by the city administrator and
approved by the city council could save future forests…or at least some trees.
Ever since
taking on the combined duties of administering the city utilities and general
city government, the former south Georgian has impressed people with his skills
at efficiency.
One thing he
did which allowed for greater public understanding of how Westminster city
government works is the detailed book he compiled each month to give reporters
covering city council meetings. It sure saved reporters a lot of questions and
it contained valuable pieces of information that just aren’t explained during
council meetings.
Well, here’s
where the problem arose. Not every reporter would faithfully cover a
Westminster. And Smith had no choice but to throw out some of those thick
books.
So, now only
agenda sheets will be handed out. If a reporter, or any member of the public,
wants the same printed information the mayor and council get, he’ll have to pay
10 dollars a copy or 100 dollars for an annual subscription.
Fortunately,
another David Smith quality is to patiently answer a reporter’s question---so we
are confident that we will get the information you need.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
January 31, 2008
Editorial---Was it
worth it? All this national attention?
The
Presidential primary vote winners in Oconee County---John McCain and
John Edwards---have at least one thing in common. They were the only
major presidential candidates to campaign inside Oconee County…and it
appears all of that local campaigning paid off for them.
But
what else does it appear? And what can we say about all of the national
attention that was paid to our small state, as the result of the
political parties playing with the primary election calendar?
Well,
for one, folks elsewhere learned more about our small, but beautiful
state. They may also have picked up that though we are one state, there
are distinct pockets of the state which adhere to different beliefs and
have different needs. And that’s probably a good thing to point out to
the rest of the country because there’s one thing for sure: It’ll be
years before we’ll probably see another Presidential candidate. Those
who win the nomination of their parties likely won’t return to South
Carolina this year. If they do, probably only to the Palmetto State’s
largest cities. And not to our outpost here in the Golden Corner.
That’s
our view. What’s yours?
January 24, 2008
Editorial---Is Everything OK in
Seneca?
The political
pundit George Will has opined that small voter turnouts translate to an
electorate satisfied with their representatives.
So, what then
do we make of the field of candidates for the March Seneca election that
includes one candidate for mayor and just six candidates for the four available
city council seats?
Can we infer
that Seneca voters are, for the most part, satisfied with the way their city is
run and the services that are offered?
We wonder if
Mayor Dan Alexander, the only ballot candidate for mayor March 11th,
will regard his re-election as a mandate of some kind to continue the
Alexander-style of mayoral service. Time will tell.
And what’s to
be made of the four council position field attracting no more than six ballots.
Does it mean most Seneca people couldn’t care less? Or does it basically mean a
vote of confidence in Seneca government?
That’s our
opinion. What’s yours?`
January 17, 2008
Editorial---How Did We Get
Here?
No tax, old or
new, is popular. But without a tax how do we stop criminals? How do we put out
the fires? And how do we pave the roads? Only an anarchist would not care
about this.
We care, and we
think you do, also. Proponents of an extra penny on the sales tax for local
projects to make life better believe a sales tax is a fairer than the property
tax. But, guess what? The results of recent votes by Oconeeans show county
residents don’t want it. Yet, we may wind up this November voting again.
Regardless
whether a higher sales tax fails for a third time, we are still left to wonder
why the electorate has such a distaste for their government. Most government
workers are honest and conscientious and try to do what’s right for those they
serve. Only a few are dishonest. And we hope that only a small number are
incompetent. But we worry that those who are no good are spoiling our way of
governance. Who is to blame for this? The sad answer is that we probably are
all to blame.
We are in this
together. One way we think we can reach better government and greater support
from those it serves is to stress civics in our schools. We don’t think they
are stressed enough.
Walhalla High
School and the rest of the county’s high schools are to be commended for their
effort last year to awaken their oldest students to the need to vote in this
participatory democracy. It’s not enough. We think the schools should stress
in the early years the need for children to learn about government and to
consider government service.
Otherwise we
are doomed.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
January 10, 2008
Editorial----Where's The Beef ?
January 3, 2008
Editorial---Does
Clemson Need A Second By-Pass?
Shortly after 4:30 on a late fall afternoon, 123 traffic headed into
Clemson was backed up from the lights at College Avenue all the way back
to the Hampton Inn. Surely, we thought, there must be an accident of
some kind. But an hour later, it was worse. This time the same two
lanes of traffic were clogged from the lights all the way back to
three-quarters the way across the Seneca River Bridge. This was no
Friday afternoon on a Clemson football weekend. The basketball Tigers
weren’t even playing at home. Why so much traffic? Well, this is
nothing new for Clemson folks. They’ve been putting up with heavy 123
traffic both directions for quite a time. At times, there’s even
gridlock between College Avenue and the 76 turn toward Anderson.
What’s the solution? Widening 123 seems to be out of the question.
There’d be too much right-of-way to buy.
Clemson already has a by-pass of sorts---if you count South Carolina 93
to Perimeter Road to U-S 76. But Perimeter Road is supposed to be a
road for campus traffic, though we all know it’s used as a shortcut.
Well, then what about a third by-pass to the north of Clemson? Say a
major span over Lake Hartwell north of the railroad trestle that would
send traffic north of the city in a route eventually feeding into 123 on
the Greenville side of Clemson. The cost, you ask? Millions, maybe
billions. Well, it’s not our money. On second thought, it is our
money. We can dream, can’t we?
That’s our view. What’s yours?
December 27,
2007
Editorial---"Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus"
Guest
Editorial---Walhalla's White Christmas
Hello and Merry Christmas! The Christmas season is upon us yet
again. Doesn't it seem like it got here quickly this year?
In October, my family took at trip to Virginia and Maryland for a few
days, and while on this trip, my boys, ages 10 and 6, approached me in a
shop with great excitement. They had found the
PERFECT Christmas present for my husband, and they came to me with their
decision to put their own spending money together so that they could buy
this perfect gift for their dad. It took nearly every dime they
had, but they were determined. And this reminded me--the
need to give is so present in all of us.
Many of you recall collecting for the White Christmas program during
your years in a Walhalla school. The White Christmas program was
started by my grandfather, EB Stoudemire, during the Great Depression of
the 1930s. A Newberry College graduate, he came to Walhalla in
1923 and became Superintendent of the Walhalla Area Schools in 1925 at
age 22. He retired on his 65th birthday in 1968 after 43 years as
Superintendent. During his tenure, he coached football and taught
science, as well. He had great affection for the students
in Walhalla, and knowing of the needs that so very many of them
faced during the era of the Great Depression, he sought to provide
Christmas presents for those who were less fortunate.
Students of all grades gave pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters,
and half-dollars. The recipients of these gifts were, and remain,
nameless. The need is particularly high for our students
this year. These are students in our midst, and are sometimes
students that you would never realize were in such need.
The Walhalla schools will continue their White Christmas collections
until December 20th. What a glorious opportunity to
make a difference in the life of a child! The White Christmas
program is solely funded by the donations received each year by
each individual Walhalla school. We are so proud to be a
part of such a wonderful tradition of hope and sharing, spanning nearly
three-quarters of a century of giving for the students in our midst.
I encourage you to support the White Christmas program by making
a donation at Walhalla Elementary, James M. Brown Elementary, Walhalla
Middle, or Walhalla High. Thank you for the care and concern you
show to our students, and may the Christmas Spirit live in you this
season, and all year long.
Editorial---Are “Clean
Elections” Truly Possible?
If
you were with us last week, you heard our appeal to whoever will win
President next year to give this country some badly needed hope. Now,
we turn our attention to the process that elects our president and the
rest of our leaders---from the Courthouse to the White House.
Brett Bursey stirred the audience at the recent meeting of the Clemson
Area League of Women Voters to think about what’s lacking in this land
of the free when it comes to selecting our leaders. This citizen
activist with his controversial background touched on some very serious
problems that, sadly, some of us have ignored at everyone’s peril.
Bursey simply wants more people to vote. It’s good for our process.
And he, representing the South Carolina Progressive Network, and
President Janie Shipley of the Clemson Area League of Women Voters are
pleased to hear that the Oconee School District is encouraging students
to begin to register to vote. There is a little known law on the books
that permits students who turn 18 by General Election Day to register
now. For registration purposes, a mass assembly of students across the
county is scheduled today at Walhalla High School.
That’s our view. What’s yours?
11/29/07
Editorial---Who can
give us hope?
Which one of ten to 20 major party presidential hopefuls can give us
hope? We don’t have to remind you we are a country weary of war and
worried for our financial future. We seem to have no idea how much oil
is left and how much eventually we’ll pay. The cost of food, of late,
has become a big concern for many Americans. One Oconeean told us
recently he doesn’t buy any food in the supermarket these days unless it
is on sale.
While we here struggle, let’s not forget our friends up north where
wintertime oil heating prices are expected to reflect as much as 25 or
30 percent increase!
These are some reasons why the Clintons, the Thompsons, the Edwards, the
Huckabees, and whoever else is out there need to give us hope…and then
deliver.
Here’s one issue we fear won’t get the proper attention during the
presidential election campaign which reaches South Carolina in January
in the form of presidential primaries: It’s the high cost of health
care. We’d like to see a reasoned, level-headed discussion. Honestly,
can we talk? Many individual cases are heart-breaking. A young man
tells us he has a medical condition that requires attention but he has
no job. His parents don’t have gainful employment. And he doesn’t have
the money for the doctor. And then for those who are fortunate to have
work and to have an employer who offers health insurance as a benefit,
there was this recent headline in USA Today: “Health Insurance
Crisis---Traditional Pensions Are Almost Gone. Will Employer-Provided
Health Insurance Be Next?”
This
kind of thing makes us wonder whether next year or some time soon
Americans, at the ballot box, will decide that it’s time to try national
health care.
That’s our view. What’s yours?
11/15/07
“The End of an Era”
During this time each week, we
usually try to steer clear of any subject that borders on commercial content.
We’ll try to do that today as well. But please forgive us if somewhere along the
way this editorial starts sounding like a paid advertisement. It’s not intended
to be that way at all. It’s just that we somehow felt like it would be fitting
to pay tribute to a Walhalla business that officially closes its doors
this week.
Generations of folks listening
to me right now, have furniture in their homes that was purchased at Sibley
Furniture. That’s because, as promised by George Sibley, that furniture has
lasted for years. Sibley Furniture’s reputation for offering well-made American
furniture at a fair price, along with quality service, made it an institution to
be trusted by thousands for over 40 years.
Sadly, George Sibley is no
longer with us. But his legacy lives on in the values he left behind with each
transaction, each interaction, and each conversation. His honesty, integrity,
and fairness left their mark on the community through every single person he
dealt with.
This week, his family has
opened the doors to Sibley Furniture one last time, in an effort to sell the
remaining inventory. No gimmicks. Just good furniture, at highly discounted
prices. Just like George Sibley would have wanted it.
That’s our viewpoint, what’s
yours?
The Soldier
By Jim Sanders, III
Having left Walhalla early that November morning in 1999 after a short hometown
visit, I had benefited from light holiday traffic on I-85 and made good time
coming through
Atlanta. By 10 A.M., I had already driven over 350 miles and was
less than two hours from my residence in Crestview, Florida. Near Montgomery, I
exited and gassed up on the Interstate. Two hours later, about 80 miles from my
destination, I approached a sign on the side of S-331 that read, “Welcome to Opp,
Alabama, the Town of Opportunity.” I pulled into McDonald’s with anticipation of
a hot cup of coffee with a sausage and egg biscuit for breakfast before their
lunch menu began.
In front of me was an
elderly gentleman who turned toward me as I gave the waitress my order. With a
friendly smile he said, “Good morning! Ain’t never seen you in here before. You
from around here, or just passing through?” I told him I lived down the road in
Crestview, Florida, just over the state line. He said, “Heck, I’ve been through
Crestview many times. My name is Hayford Johnson but everyone around here calls
me Mister J. I come here every morning since my wife died. I love their
scrambled eggs, gravy and biscuits.” About that time the waitress said, “Here’s
your order, Mister J.” He politely said to me, “Come on over and sit with me if
you’d like.”
I received my order on a
tray and sat down with him. No other customers were around at the time. He
removed his cap and placed it in his lap, folded his hands, lowered his head in
silence for a few seconds, then raised his head and put his cap back on. It was
a black cap with brightly gold embroidered letters. On the top was “Retired
Veteran” and below was “Iwo Jima.”
The lines of age on his face
showed me the calendar had turned over many years during his lifetime. I asked
him, “Were you on Iwo Jima?” He replied, “Yep, I served in
the Marines in the Second World War,” as he placed the fork on his biscuit and
cut it in half. He said, “You ever served in the armed forces?” I said, “Yes
sir, served in the USAF for 22 years and now work for the Air Force as a
government civilian at Hurlburt Field.” As his eyes brightened and his eyebrows
furrowed with a serious look, he said, “Those Special Forces guys you have at
Hurlburt have a tough job in Iraq and Afghanistan.” I told him, “Yes sir, I’m
proud to be around highly trained professionals who know their mission. Flying
helicopters or being on a C-130 gunship in sandstorms and team-working with
Special Forces is a tough job. Plus, they are away from their families a lot –
but that’s part of being a Commando.”
I could now tell he had
proudly served his nation as part of a great generation of Americans who had
served during this era. I sipped on my coffee and didn’t ask him any questions.
He just started telling his story as if it were cathartic to get it out of his
mind and into the open to a perfect stranger. He said, “Back in my day our creed
was plain and simple: just duty, honor and country and being a freedom fighter
to any threat of oppression. We landed on Yellow Beach at Iwo Jima with little
resistance in February 1945, and then all hell broke loose. Our vehicles mired
in the volcanic ash and mud. When I got ashore there were dead soldiers and body
parts all over the place. Smoke and the smell of gun powder were in the air
mixed with the smell of burning flesh. We lost a lot of good marines. We buried
them, when we could, in mass graves. Morale was low. There were flares at night
that lit the sky as we stayed low in our foxholes. Finally, troops worked their
way up Mt. Suribachi. It was a brave
undertaking. We had a code of honor to die for our country. The enemy’s code was
suicide before surrender. The flame throwers got them out of the caves and
pillboxes. It was a smoldering inferno, and those who did not come out died
either from lack of oxygen or from shooting themselves rather than giving up. We
had mass casualties and many were wounded. When I landed on that shore I had
four stripes on my sleeves, but so many got killed they gave me a battlefield
commission as a brown bar lieutenant. Yes sir, I left a few close buddies on
that black rock island in the Pacific.” His eyes watered as he looked down at
his half-eaten meal that had become cold.
Finally I said, “Sir, it is
an honor and a pleasure to meet you. Not long ago I met a man who looked just
like Robert Young, the actor who played on TV in “Father Knows Best.” He was on
Omaha Beach but would not talk about it although his wife talked proudly for
him. Was it hard to tell me your story?” He replied, “Well, some carry it inside
and keep it stored up. I don’t brag about it but don’t mind talking to another
vet. Besides, you seemed like a pretty good listener.”
He got up from the table and
took his tray to the trash receptacle. He said, “Hate to rush off but I got to
go over to the town of Baker and check on my show horse. I just love horses. I
have a man who trains and rides him and takes good care of him. He’s won over
ten ribbons in the southeast.”
I told him, “Take care of your self, Mister
J.” He replied, “Well the Good Lord has given me 80-plus years, and 2000 is less
than two months away. By the way, it’s Veterans Day today. I’m going by the
local cemetery before I head to Baker and pay my respects to several who proudly
served their country. Those boys were raised right here in Opp.”
As he backed out and came
around to where I was standing at the entrance of McDonald’s to wave goodbye, I
saw a blue decal on the driver’s side of his windshield indicating that he held
the rank of an officer; below the decal was a base entrance sticker to Fort
Rucker. It was about 11 o’clock that Thursday on 11 November, 1999. That day I
stood firmly at attention and gave him a proud salute. This was a special “goose
bump” thrilling Veteran’s Day for me. Armistice Day was meant to end all wars on
the eleventh hour of the eleventh month in 1918 and was later changed to
Veterans Day. The exact day and close to the exact hour I saluted…the Soldier.
November
1,
2007
Editorial---Voters have
choices
Who
says we live in a time of apathy? And who says our lack of interest in
government forces us to accept the quality of the public servant we are
left with? Well, it’s “they” who say that. And all of you know who
“they” area.
This
fall’s elections offer a hope for democracy. We have competitive
contests for mayor in two Oconee County towns.
Walhallans may choose among Randy Chastain, Jim Satterfield, and Wayne
Smalley to serve as mayor of city government. At Salem, the mayoral
contest between Dianne Head and incumbent Thurmond Coward offers a
choice to the voters in that town.
The
qualifying period expired in Westminster with one candidate for mayor,
the current mayor, Derek Hodgin. Does it mean Westminster voters are
satisfied with city government as led by Hodgin since the mid term
resignation of Tom Green? Does it mean Derek Hodgin is unbeatable in
2007? Or does it mean all other Westminster residents simply want
nothing to do with being mayor of their town?
We
would prefer to think that this is a vote of confidence in Hodgin. He
appears to want to change Westminster for the better. We wish him the
best. One thing Hodgin made known recently that plagues his town---and
plagues all of us in Oconee---is our nasty, filthy habit of littering.
Here’s what so frustrating about the litter and our disregard for those
who have to clean up our mess: The City of Seneca has probably spent in
excess of 100 thousand dollars to beautify the asphalt east entrance to
the city. Yet, already, the vegetation beds in the medians have become
an ashtray for cigarette butts.
That’s our view. What’s yours?
October 25,
2007
“Another Oktoberfest in
the Books”
Now that the 29th
Annual Walhalla Oktoberfest is over and done, we thought it might be appropriate
if we weighed in on the success of this yearly event, and others like it. For
towns the size of Walhalla, an annual festival, fair or other such event,
depending on where the proceeds go, can mean big money into the budget of the
city’s chamber of commerce, and the town’s general operating funds. Regardless
of where the actual festival proceeds are designated, the hope is that local
businesses will benefit from the influx of visitors that will stop in to make a
purchase and perhaps make a return trip into town in the future. Needless to
say, we realize that a good portion of the income from these events must be
rolled over into the expenses of staging the event again next year. The point
being, that in our opinion, the positives of local events like Oktoberfest and
the Apple Festival, far outweigh the negatives.
Much of the success is
dependent on the weather and this past weekend could not have been any nicer for
the 29th Oktoberfest. Despite competing with afternoon home games for
both Clemson and South Carolina, as well as other local happenings, the crowds
at the Oktoberfest were great.
We applaud all the folks that
make it happen year in and year out. From the volunteers that work the gates and
direct parking, to the security officers and everyone in between, here’s to a
job well done.
We hope the Oktoberfest and
other local festivals like it, have a long and prosperous future.
That’s our viewpoint, what’s
yours ?
October 18,
2007
Editorial—Can the Bush war policy survive?
If we can believe what we've read, one of the more patient
supporters of the President's prosecution of the Iraq war could be losing his
patience. Our U.S. senator, Lindsey Graham, has been most articulate in defining
the stakes in Iraq and the need to be patient. But even he, on the eve of his
next election, appears to be in the mood to re-assess.
When we think of the possibility that by year's end, Graham will
feel compelled to switch positions, we're reminded of a bumper sticker we saw
recently in Oconee County. It read, "Stop This Needless War." We're also
reminded that when the esteemed Senator Goodwater paid a call to the Nixon White
House besieged by Watergate, the Nixon presidency had little life left.
We know not whether any of this can accurately parallel what's
going on today, but the choice Americans make next year could well reflect
whether any of what has happened in Iraq has been worth it.
Then again, the self-described patient man who is our president
now may be right. And if he is, then history will prove the latest invasion into
Iraq as important to democratic rule. To paraphrase something Mike Wallace said
after 9-11, "I'd like to be around to see how this all turns out."
October 11,
2007
Editorial—Our schools little salespersons
When we heard a recent editorial from our friends at Toccoa,
Georgia's W-N-E-G Radio, all we could mutter is, "Amen, brother!" We'd like to
repeat it here for you... and wonder if you think the problem in neighboring
Stephens County is a problem here in Oconee County. If it is, we'd like to hear
from you.
"As has been the case with every increase in local school taxes,
we've heard the same discussion - debates about whether we have a bloated
administrative bureaucracy, debates about what teachers are paid, debates about
the local tax burden, etcetera, etcetera.
The school board could cut all that noise down to a whisper with
one simple resolution. It would read something like this: "In exchange for this
tax increase, we promise no child attending a public school in Stephens County
will ever be turned into a little salesperson to raise money for school
programs."
If you're a parent, or even if you're not, surely you've been
confronted by a child in school who's selling something on behalf of some
extracurricular activity. Cookie dough, pizza kits, wrapping paper, magazines,
citrus fruits ... people will buy things they don't really need to support their
children, their grandchildren, and their nieces and nephews. After all, who can
turn down a 7-year-old who really doesn't know what he or she is selling, and
who's doing it only because an adult told them that they should, or because they
could win some "prize?" Once upon a time, such sales seemed to be rare things
high school seniors undertook to fund end-of-the-year trips, but now they have
infected virtually every grade.
It happens everywhere, not just Stephens County. An enormous
cottage industry has grown up around school-related sales, with outside
companies keeping a sizable portion of the proceeds while the children receive
pennies on the dollar.
How did it come to this? With the many millions of dollars we
spend on education in this country every year, why must our children - and our
parents - be forced into hawking products to help support our schools?
It's not right. It needs to stop. And if they put a stop to it,
the Stephens County Board of Education would be on the vanguard of an effort
that will be applauded loudly statewide, one that could snowball into something
that would provide genuine relief for our students, parents, and residents at
large.
October 4,
2007
Editorial---Hope for
Afghanistan
While we seem to be immersed in whether our continued military presence
in Iraq is the right thing, we continue to fight a similar war on
another front. And Will Brown believes there is hope for Afghanistan.
It
was good the other day that Captain Brown reminded us of the stakes in
Afghanistan. Sitting in the conference room of the Hamilton Career
Center, the men and the women of the Seneca Rotary Club watched a replay
of the planes hitting the towers. It was a reminder, of course, why the
U-S and other coalition forces landed in Afghanistan about a month after
9-11.
Remember when our president grabbed the bullhorn amid the debris of the
World Trade Center and promised, in effect, to retaliate against those
responsible. At that moment, the civilized world was one with the
United States. And that’s why still today more countries deploy forces
to Afghanistan than they do to Iraq.
So,
six years later---and one year after Will Brown’s deployment---it was
good to hear a progress report on the progress of Afghanistan. And,
yes, despite a resurgent Taliban and a thriving opium crop, good things
are happening in Afghanistan. A good example is the capital city of
Kabul. When the Taliban ruled and hosted bin Laden, Kabul was a city of
one million people. Today it numbers four million. And Will Brown will
tell you that in Kabul you can find healthy commerce enjoyed by a free
people.
That’s our view. What’s yours?
September 27,
2007
Editorial---West Union ruling
could have FOI impact
The
September 19th show cause hearing revealed the possibility that a
dispute in the small Oconee town of West Union could have greater implications
across the State of South Carolina.
Beyond
whether West Union leaders acted legally in deciding to demolish a former
school building, the question arises: To what extent must government leaders
telegraph their intent to take action? Especially, we ask, when those actions
cause outcry from constituents.
By now
it’s no secret that in South Carolina some of the most unpopular actions of
government are taken without advance notice. While a public body may post or
disseminate a notice to meet, it often doesn’t list what’s to be considered.
And, sadly, our Freedom of Information Law apparently lets public bodies get
away with this. This is a question we hope the Honorable J-C “Buddy”
Nicholson will resolve in his ruling.
In the
meantime, we can’t be quiet about a matter we feel leads to a cynicism and
distrust that our democracy can’t tolerate. Most government leaders are
honest and want to do right. But they should be more upfront with those they
serve.
What
particularly bothers us about some comments from plaintiff’s attorney Kirby
Shealy the third is that some times an elected official will look around the
table and if he sees enough absences from those who he disagrees with, he’ll
precipitously call for a vote in an effort to railroad something thru. No
matter his convictions, the good public leader will wait for a later meeting
when his opponents can be present…and the public will have proper notice.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
September 20,
2007
Editorial---Our little
airport?
Every time
we’ve visited Oconee’s small airport near Clemson, we’ve never heard more than
the buzz from one or two planes. But maybe we go at the wrong times. We
probably should watch the activities on the day of a Clemson football game.
Our small
airport is changing. Let’s hope change is for the better.
They are
still talking about the other day when a Global Five Thousand landed. Airport
manager Kevin Short believes that with its 94-foot wing span, this was the
largest passenger plane ever to land at the airport. When the airport runway
is extended, you can expect larger planes.
If we must
go bigger, let bigger be better for all of Oconee County. Before it went out
of business West Point Stevens recognized the value of the local airport. The
textile maker donated the furnishings for the airport terminal conference
room.
We’ve
heard a lot about what sewer is supposed to do for economic development.
Maybe Oconee Regional Airport will become a selling point for development that
brings good jobs.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
September 13, 2007
Editorial---“Dear Stakeholder:”
“Dear
Stakeholder” is the start of the thick mailing from the Genesis Consulting Group
in Columbia. Having read about the chance to give input on a strategic plan for
Oconee County, we wonder whether you have been invited to be part of an
interactive work session Wednesday, September 19th at Seneca’s
Gignilliat Community Center. And, if you haven’t but would like to have a say,
we suggest you contact Sam Dickson or Harold Gibson or any of the fine folks
connected with the Oconee Economic Development Commission…and let them know you
are interested in what’s called the “Strategic Economic Development Plan for
Oconee County.”
The
invitation makes no bones about what’s at stake where it reads: “Your
participation in this importance process will be instrumental in developing a
strategic ‘road map’ to expand the County’s existing industrial and commercial
base, and attract new businesses to the area. Success would potentially
increase the County’s tax base, and provide new employment opportunities for
County residents, thereby increasing wealth, disposable income and improve the
quality of life for the citizens of Oconee County. Moreover, expanding the
industrial and commercial tax base will reduce the County’s reliance on a
largely residential tax base, which oftentimes costs counties more in services
than it contributes in tax revenues.”
Does this
sound like something we should pay attention to?
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
September 7
Editorial—Bountyland Drive-In
Upon hearing that Bountyland property intended for a new
supermarket long ago supported a drive-in movie theatre, we were
surprised....and intrigued. Then, we came to realize that only those long in the
tooth would even remember drive-in movies and, sadly, know what they were. We
say "were" because we've heard only 10 of those remain today in this land of
ours.
We may live today in the greatest time of modern convenience,
but something has been lost by not being able to sit in Henry Ford's invention
in the outdoors and watch Hollywood's best—all the while sitting beside your
loved one.
The entrepreneur that brought us the Bountyland Drive-In, the
Fox Drive-In and, we're told, a drive-in along the Walhalla-Westminster Highway
couldn't compete with an expanding television lineup, movie rentals, and
satellite television. How many of you remember the White Horse Road Drive-In at
Greenville? Or the one that sat where a Publix does business in Anderson?
AUGUST
30, 2007
EDITORIAL ......
THE ART OF GETTING MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND OF OUR
YOUNGER CITIZENS BACK TO SCHOOL LAST WEEK WAS
ACCOMPLISHED WITH SCORES OF BUSES, THOUSANDS OF
PRIVATE AUTOMOBILES, HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS AND STAFF,
AND A MULTITUDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS - AND IT
WAS ALL DONE WITHOUT ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS...DESPITE THE
POPULATING OF THE NEW WEST-OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH ROAD
AND SIDEWALK WORK STILL IN PROGRESS.
OUR HATS OFF TO EVERYONE...STUDENTS, PARENTS,
TEACHERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS...ALL OF WHOM -
DESPITE NEAR TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES - KEPT THEIR
COOL,
PERHAPS HOLDING THEIR BREATH - AND SUCCEEDED IN
LAUNCHING A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR. CLASS IS NOW IS SESSION
AND IT SHAPES UP TO BE A GREAT NEW ACADEMIC YEAR WITH
DOCTOR MICHAEL LUCAS AS THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND AN
EXCITING SPIRIT OF EXPECTANCY IN THE GOLDEN CORNER.
THAT'S OUR VIEW....WHAT'S YOURS?
August 23, 2007
Editorial---“Being an
American”
If you are
a South Carolina public school student, you are eligible for a cash prize as a
winner in an essay contest sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute titled,
“Being an American.” This non-profit education organization has cash prizes
totaling more than 60 thousand dollars for high school students and their
teachers.
We
encourage students to write essays on “Being an American” exploring the rights
and responsibilities of American citizenship.
Here’s
what the president of the Bill of Rights Institute, Victoria Hughes, says, “We
are pleased to offer students and educators in these regions the opportunity
to explore how values such as integrity, courage and responsibility are
interconnected with America’s founding documents and American heroes.”
Count us
in the amen corner President Hughes.
We regard
our country the greatest, but there are forces under way to bring it down.
Anything we can do to instill the values of integrity, courage and
responsibility the better for all of us.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
August 16, 2007
Editorial---How Do Visitors See
Us?
Rick Lacey,
Phil Shirley, and Mildred Spearman are among those working to place Oconee
County and all of its natural attractions in a better position to attract
tourists and the dollars they bring. And one of the by-products of the project
to keep development away from one thousand acres north of Walhalla is that
places like Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls will be better able to
accommodate visitors.
No one is
under any delusion that a revved up tourist effort will turn Oconee into a
Myrtle Beach of the upstate, but who can argue that with the World of Energy,
the lakes and parks, the Wild and Scenic Chattooga, and Whitewater Falls that
Oconee does not have much to offer.
The Laceys,
the Shirleys, the Spearmans and all the others have a tall order.
And here’s
something we worry about: The first impression of a new place for the executive
who could bring jobs and the family headed for an outing is what they see when
they first cross into our county. And consider what they see at every
entranceway. Are we putting our best foot forth?
Here’s
something we notice when we drive 123 from Clemson into Oconee: the first part
of the highway is a patch job and too bumpy. The welcome to Oconee sign is a
faded green with weeds growing around it. And then there’s a line of
billboards, one after the other. Contrast that with the warm welcome sign and
the manicured shrubbery and no billboards when you drive into Clemson.
Does this mean the City of Clemson can do better than the County of
Oconee?
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
August 9, 2007
Editorial---Building Man Derek
Hodgin
In the weeks
ahead, Derek Hodgin will have made his decision on whether to try for a second
term as Westminster mayor. In the meantime, at least for one reason,
Westminster residents may take comfort in having this professional engineer
around as the city undertakes the rebuilding of the Community Depot.
Imagine the
surprise for contractor representatives when Mayor Hodgin, at a pre-bid
conference, let them know right away that by trade, he’s a professional
engineer. While Hodgin admitted he’s no expert on construction, he does know
quality----and quality is what the mayor, the chamber of commerce, the city’s
historic preservation group will look for in the re-build of a prized
Westminster possession.
The mayor
admits that he has been “frustrated” in the time it is taking to return the
Depot as a Westminster landmark. He also is liable to be displeased that, for a
second straight year, the Apple Festival won’t be able to make use of the
community facility. But tomorrow is an important day in the re-build process.
Bid proposals are due by 10 a.m.
That’s our
view. What’s yours?
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