The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 14

2B greenvilleonline.com Wednesday, April 19, 2006 The Greenville News ouncil tows to However, Tuesday's amendments meant the bill's final version was different from the one that received a public hearing two weeks ago. Kingsbury said that's what the hearing was for. "That's why you have a public hearing, to get their input," he said. "Then you make changes." But the late amendments required a special vote from council, which normally lion in damages and legal fees. Preserved in Tuesday's bill is a pledge that the county must get property owners' permission before imposing strict zoning designations on rural property that would prevent the owners from splitting the land into small parcels.

Council's approval was unanimous Tuesday. The measure becomes law today. Unanimous vote a 'clarification' of board's stance on eminent domain sions on your property could become a hot-button issue. Councilman Mark Kingsbury, who proposed the bill, said he agreed to change controversial wording that some feared also would make it tougher to control future growth. A portion that equated some strict zoning designations to government "taking" your property was removed.

Council Chairman Butch Kirven said it could have prompted other property owners to sue the county over any zoning decisions under the logic the county had similarly "taken" their land. Dr. Catherine Ross, director of the Center for Quality Growth at Georgia Tech, said it was a bad idea that would have made growth more haphazard and made it harder to protect property. does not allow measures to be changed just before the final vote. The measure was a response to what Kirven called the "sensational" outcry generated nationally by a Supreme Court case involving Connecticut landowners and locally by lawsuits over the city of Greenville's seizure of downtown land.

The city lost those cases, costing it more than $6 mil By Ben Szobody Staff Writer bszobody greenvillenews.com If you're worried about the government's ability to seize your property, this could make you feel better: Greenville County explicitly pledged Tuesday to limit its seizure of private land for public use. Some County Council members who voted for the measure said the unanimous vote changes little but amounts to a "clarification" of the county's unofficial eminent domain policy in an election year where the effect of government deci ounfy limit land takm Life away from Blue Ridge High begins July 1 Man dies in shooting at auto dealership vm 1 1 'nwTT 1 wwrynip Authorities said customer shot himself i 'J1 i I 4 i -t. ft i i- 1 1 's thought they had the problem with Elston's car worked out. 'I'll tell you how to solve this'," Gambrell quoted him assaying. "At a point, he stopped and said that this was how he was going to handle it," Gambrell said.

"The man pointed a handgun at his head and pulled the trigger." Gambrell said the man never pointed the weapon at anyone but himself. He said authorities found a second handgun on the man. By E. Richard Walton and Claire Anderson Staff Writers A 62-year-old man pulled out a handgun and fatally shot himself on the showroom floor of Kevin Whitak-er Chevrolet on Tuesday afternoon, a police spokesman said. Greenville County Deputy Coroner Linda Holbrook identified the man as Albert Smith Elston of Roebuck.

The death has been ruled a suicide, and there was nothing "suspicious" about the death, she said. Elston and his wife, Jayne, were at the car dealership around 2 p.m., talking to employees about problems with a car they purchased, police Lt. Mike Gambrell said employees told investigators. Gambrell said the employees at the dealership Roberts defeats Shirley in Anderson mayor's race HEIDI HEILBRUNN Staff Official notice: Kenneth Southerlin, principal of Blue Ridge High School in Greer for the past 29 years, said he will retire as of June 30. Principal Southerlin to retire Insurance broker, 46, will be first black to head the city's government His record: 35 years in education, 29 as head of Blue Ridge High "Everywhere I go, I'm principal of this high school.

Separating that will be a little bit difficult, I think." By Anna Simon Clemson Bureau asimon greenvillenews.coni ANDERSON Political newcomer Terence Roberts defeated Anderson Mayor Richard Shirley in a close runoff Tuesday, making history as the first black mayor of Anderson. Roberts received 2,219 votes, and Shirley received 1,887 votes, according to unofficial election returns. State could organize ticket scalping under proposed bill Resales would be conducted through the sports or entertainment venues years on city council, said he will remain politically active but isn't likely to seek any future political office. "My ambition in life was to be the mayor of Anderson, and I got two wonderful terms," Shirley said. "I never had a higher aspiration." Shirley said he will work toward a smooth transition and said he believes Roberts will be a good mayor.

"Terence ran a wonderful campaign. He comes from a great family, he has a resume that will give him a great foundation to be the mayor and he has a lot of in tegrity, Shirley said. "If you want to buy a ticket, you know you're getting a legitimate ticket." Warren Tompkins, lobbyist promoting legislation But the Judiciary Committee did add language to the bill that takes a swipe at people who sell bogus tickets through Internet sites. They would face $10,000 civil fines and attorney fees, said Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.

The first time those charges are brought and a conviction comes, "they won't be offering to resell tickets in South Carolina anymore," Smith said. The organized market for tickets over face value also helps consumers. "If you want to buy a ticket, you know you're getting a legitimate ticket," Tompkins said. robbed people on a porch on Chicora Avenue. The three suspects went next door, kicked in the door and assaulted two people, he said.

Officers set up a perimeter and had tracking dogs trying to pick up the scent, Gambrell said. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 23-CRIME. "I am very excited," said Roberts, 46, owner of an Anderson State Farm Insurance agency, who' praised the work of the volunteers in his election campaign. Roberts said his first priority is to meet with the current council to "get abreast of what is going On and talk about the future." Shirley, an Anderson banker who served two terms as mayor and 20 "It's legalized scalping," Tompkins says. He says 25 states now have similar laws and that they're common in locations with professional sports teams.

The bill's move to the House floor came two months after complaints abounded when tickets to an Oprah Winfrey visit to North Charleston sold out in minutes and showed up immediately on the Web well above their face value. The legislation does nothing to keep people from buying up blocks of tickets. And it does nothing to increase policing or penalties for the state's existing scalping law that says tickets can sell for no more than $1 over the face value. Current law has a $100 fine or 30 days in jail for each ticket scalped. charged with armed robbery and resisting arrest, the man has bean charged with firing a pistol as he fled from police into the woods, Gambrell said.

Warrants weren't available late Monday to confirm the man's identity. Gambrell said police got a call April 10 around 9:20 p.m. that three masked men had By Jim Davenport The Associated Press COLUMBIA South Carolina would set up an organized ticket scalping market under legislation heading to the House floor. The bill the House Judiciary Committee approved Tuesday lets people resell tickets at a markup by working through the entertainment and sports venues and the companies that handle their ticket sales. For instance, if a ticket originally sold for $50 and the purchaser wants to resell it for $100, the company could charge $10, or 20 percent of the The fee would be split between the ticket company and the venue, said Warren Tompkins, a lobbyist who helped push the bill.

By Nan Lundeen Staff Writer nlundeen greenvillenews.com BLUE RIDGE He's seen some kids walk into Blue Ridge High that he thought would never graduate. And then, principal Kenneth Southerlin said, "It's almost' like a miracle taking place." Those kids would turn around and join the 4,000 graduates the retiring Blue Ridge High principal of 29 years has congratulated on graduation night. "If you did not have that, I don't think there's any salary in the world you could pay somebody to do a high school principal's job," said Southerlin, who spent 35 years in education. Because Southerlin grew up in Blue Ridge, he "knows the community really well and what's best for the students," said senior Ashley Weathers. "He's been in our shoes." Southerlin is retiring June 30.

GREER Hatfield named teaching fellow Kristen Hatfield has been named a South Carolina teaching fellow. Asa teaching fellow, Hatfield will participate in an Hatfield education program at Anderson University. She is a home-schooled student and the daughter of Mark and Cheryl Hatfield of Greer. GREENVILLE Greenville artist in international event Greenville artist Randolph New Armstrong has been accepted into the American Watercolor Society's 139th annual international exhibition. Her painting, "Solitude," received the Mary and "Everywhere I go, I'm principal of this high school," Southerlin said.

"I had to be the same role model at the grocery store, at the restaurant, at church. Separating that will be a little bit difficult, I think." Sherry Thornton, media clerk and parent, said, "The school has been his life." Letting loose means, "I want to leave it in the very best shape I possibly can," Southerlin said. English teacher Joanna Jones said, "He's built the ship up so it'll float." Blue Ridge resident Walker Duncan said, "The academic program would not be what it is without his tireless efforts." The state report card rates Blue Ridge High "excellent." The school offers four years each of four foreign languages. The marching band has won four state championships during Southerlin's tenure, Maxwell Desser Memorial Award, which will be presented at the society's annual dinner this month. GREER Crestview students in Vorld finals' The Odyssey of the Mind team at Crestview Elementary placed second in the state competition and will advance to the world finals at Ames, Iowa, in May.

Crestview is the only Greenville County school competing in the event. GREENVILLE Mullins receives Clemson award Grier Gower Mullins has received the fourth annual Governor and Mrs. Richard W. Riley Award for Excellence in Dropout Prevention. Mullins is a Greenville resident and executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education.

The award is given annually by Clemson Universi Kenneth Southerlin, Blue Ridge High principal night and paying a $1,000 fine the school didn't have, or line up to be paddled "they all lined up and took their licks," he said. He's had challenges such as overseeing high school student bus drivers in his early days. And one incident years ago over which he nearly quit when a superintendent reinstated a student he had suspended for having a .357 Magnum under the front seat of his car at school. But he hung in there, and the superintendent was gone in six months. Smiley Williams, a former principal himself, described Southerlin as a "level, cool-headed person that wants to do the right thing for the students." Nan Lundeen can be reached at 298-431 6.

Theatre's production of "Six Characters in Search of an Author." Gragtmans, a Greenville resident, portrayed the role of Mother in the production. GREENVILLE Skilton in 'immersion' studies in Mexico Linda Skilton of Greenville was one of several Converse College students who participated in a 26-day "total immersion course" in Oaxaca, Mexico. She lived with a local family and took courses at a nearby language institute. WE WANT YOUR NEWS Let us know what is happening in your suburban neighborhoods. Tell us about coming events, meetings, projects and awards.

Please include pictures of people involved, if available. Send your news to Suburbs Page, The Greenville News, P.O. Box 1688, Greenville, SC 29602-1688, or fax it to 298-4395, attention: Suburbs Page. and the chorus consistently places singers in all-state. The school has grown from 600 to 1,150 students during Southerlin's time there.

Southerlin doesn't think he'll be able to keep himself away from Friday night football. He estimated he's seen 293 kickoffs. "When that kid catches a pass and scores a touchdown, there's a thrill there." Southerlin shared one football story: Years ago, paddling was still permitted. One day, football initiates ran around the outside of the school naked and were seen by moms waiting to pick up band students. Given the choice of suspension and forfeiting a game against Liberty that ty's National Dropout Prevention Center.

GREENVILLE Sterling High class to meet The Sterling High School Class of 1956 will meet Sunday at the Phils Wheat-ley Center at 6 p.m. For more information, call Samuel D. Miller at 292-5291. SIMPS0NVILLE Bayne receives Wofford College honor Lauren Bayne has received individual scholastic achievement recognition for maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average at Wofford College. She is the daughter of Tommy and Jean Bayne of SimpsonvUle.

GREENVILLE Gragtmans performs in theater production Laura Gragtmans participated in the University of Evansville's Department of Police charge man in assaults, porch robbery, on Chicora Ave. i Three masked men hit neighboring homes on April 10 By Claire Anderson Staff Writer canderson greenvillenews.com Greenville police charged a man with robbing people sitting on a front porch on Chicora Avenue last week, then assaulting two people in the home next door, said Greenville police Lt. Mike Gambrell late Monday. In addition to being I.