The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 9

ill Greenwood, 1969 --A Big Year For Politics, Schools -f of the city of Greenwood, as well as those in Ninety Six and Ware Shoals, nave entered a court suit to appeal the ruling. THE CITY of Greenwood will, have to borrow funds early in 1970, In anticipation of revenue, for city operations. This has been a customary practice In recent years. In spite of this, the administration produced a balanced budget for 1970, providing ft' increases in pay for cKy employes with no Increase in (axes. A surplus is expected at th-end of 1969, and the selling price of the old city hall, which has not yet been sold, is still an asset on the city's books.

held Its first primary in Greenwood, prior to the April 8 city general election, out Democrats won all six seats on city council. Republican Mayor John Nave was reelected by a narrow margin over W. L. Leary, a former mayor who staged a write-In campaign between the primary and the general election. Four Democratic newcomers who won council seats were Lewis Minor, John G.

Davis, Jimmy May and James Ray Dodgen. successful Republican candidates for council were incumbent Don Childs and newcomers R. G. Kilgore, Don Joiner, Henry Todd, Randolph Hunt and R. E.

(Sonny) Lee. A ruling Itad to be obtained from the state attorney general on the marking of ballots, concerning how to vote straight and mixed tickets and the proper entry of a write-in vote. THE TWO POLITICAL parties held their primaries on March 11 at the same polling Eight times as many voters chose the Democratic tables as chose the Republican tables. The primary and general election were a 'test for the new Greenwood Municipal Election Board. The city Republican Party scored a first by staging a primary and having candidates for all six council seats.

The scrappy Greenwood Braves captured their second Western Carolina League pennant In their second year of operation. Greenwood's American Legion baseball team won the state championship. The street dance, the art show and the Governor's Day dinner were highlights of the second annual S.C. Festival of Flowers. A number of other events expanded the list of festival events.

Miss Rachel Harris of Lamar was crowned S.C. Princess of Flowers. THE PIEDMONT NORTHERN Railway merged with the Seaboard Coastline Railroad July 1, a step that promised to bring downtown railroad track removal closer to reality. A proposed Southern Railway route that would by-pass downtown was announced in December. The Track Removal Committee, headed by Dr.

Stanley Baker as I. Dowllng. Saturday parking downtown remained free to the public after requests from the merchants for free Saturday parking were debated by city council. A compromise settle, ment provided that the merchants would pay a portion of ihe lost parking meter reve-. nue, ACCOMPLISHMENTS the city administration during 1969 include the installation of a new system of dual traffic lights, setting new lot-size and paiking space requirements for apartments, publishing a revised, loose leaf edition of the City Code, annexation of Blyth Heights, a clean-up campaign preceding the Festival of Flowers, the beginning of the leased housing pro gram, the merger of the city and county planning boards, and approval of a study of downtown by 1 architectural students, as well as resolving a number of re.

zoning requests. International Paper Company began construction of a $6.5 million flakeboard plant on the Milford Springs Road. Countywlde taxes were increased 7 mills and District 50 school taxes went up 8 mills. Greenwood County and municipalities opposed a telephone rate increase sought by Greenwood-United Telephone Co. The increase, which almost doubled rates charged in some categories, was approved by the S.C.

Public Service Commission and went into effect Aug. 15. County officials and officials By CHARLES MOORE Index-Journal Reporter It wu the vear of th nam high school, the first Repub lican primary, ana tne second league pennant for the Greenwood Braves. That was the year that was, in Greenwood in 1969. Another highlight, the second annual South Carolina Festival of Flowers, was termed by many "an outstanding success." Workmen and students occupied the unfinished new Greenwood High School building at the opening of school.

At year's-end, the impressive new structure seems at home at the intersection of Cokes, bury Road and Northside Drive. THE REPUBLICAN Party Lake Draining carried on continual rounds of negotiations In 1969. Dr. Baker was named "Man of the Year" by Greenwood Rotary Club. General William Westmoreland, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke in Greenwood for the ladies' night banquet of the Kiwanis Club.

Astronaut Harrison Schmitt spoke at Piedmont TEC commencement shortlly after his fellow astronauts had made the first moon landing, on the Apollo 11 flight. Greenwood School District No. SO trustees announced a plan for complete desegregation of schools to take effect in September of 1970. Harry Spann became district school superintendent upon the retirement of Thom SL Search For Neighbors' Body Enlarges At Camp Croft Park Yis. Mmmmm 'i By JOHN WATSON Index-Journal Reporter CAMP CROFT STATE PARK 5 Search Derations continunH Friday for the body of a Greenwood man who apparently drowned late Monday afternoon The Index 1969 In Review: tions base for the search efforts is in a desolate, wooded area of the park, accessible only by jeeps and four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Bulldozers have cut a road over what was once a path. Rain which fell in the area Wednesday and Thursday and the movement of emergency ve hicles over the road has made it almost impassable. The van containing diving equipment and a bus used as a headquarters and kitchen had to be pulled over the muddy road to the site of search operations. A generator truck was also set up to provide light. Coordinator of the search ef- ion, j.

waiiace mpps, aaieiy Officer for the S.C. Wildlife Re sources Department, said that approximately 100 persons, members of the Wildlife Department and various rescue squads have participated in the search. Operations were halted Christmas Day, and resumed at 7 a.m. Friday morning. A HARD FREEZE hit the Spartanburg area Christmas Day and patches of ice and downed trees were still evident in the area Friday afternoon.

Twelve rescue squad divers have been working 45-minute shifts in the water, swimming patterns in the area where Neighbors is believed to have gone down. Divers report that the water is too muddy to see and they have to feel their way along the bottom. According to Baker Creek State Park, School Problems Big McCormick News or'ts ontinue Sea wood who apparently drowned in the lake Monday 'Other members can be seen in boats aiding divers beneath the Surface. (Index-Journal photo by John Watson) 1 Divers and other searchers huddle around a.reoft the bank of Lake Tom Moore Craig yesterday afternoon continue to recover the body of James Neighbors of Neighbors' checkbook wasfhis rod and reel, tacklebox and Hipps, dragging operations were almost imoossible because of tne number oi trees ana stumps in the lake. vicinity has not been identified as Neighbors DRAINING of the lake' was started Tuesday afternoon.

found at the waterline near; the I spot he is- believed to have gone in. Divers recovered Hipps reported late1 Friday afternoon that the water level had dropped only two. feet and that it may take as long as two weeks to drain the Hipps said that all possible efforts are being made find Neighbors as soon as possible and that the search will continue in full force until tie. is found. Rescue units from Pacolet Mills, Spartanburg, WUjlanuton, Anderson, Gantt, Belton, Honea Path and the Tri-City Rescue Squad from Oconee along With S.C.

Wildlife Resources Department officers from Greenville, Spartanburg and Cherokee counties have been the search operations. The Greenwood County Rescue Squad has been called' in, and left Greenwood about 8 p.tn. Friday. --r By DANNY MCNEILL Index-Journal State Editor McCORMICK The opening of the long-awaited Baker Creek State Park, the retirement of a veteran law enforcement officer and school desegregation problems made news in McCormick County in 1969. Baker Creek State Park, a dream which had eluded reality for three years, opened to the public in the summer of this year although only limited facilities were available.

A boat ramp, two picnic areas and some camp sites were completed In time for most of the summer season. ADDITIONAL facilities were to be built this fall and winter in time for the 1970 summer camping season. The park is now open throughout the year with Kenneth Kolb employed as park superintendent. Early in January Sheriff Gifton A. Fleming retired after 26 years of law enforcement.

He had announced in 1S68 he would retire and would not seek re-election. He was succeeded by L. A. Moore who had formerly served as police chief of McCormick. Fleming was a former McCormick police chief and served for over nine years as a sheriffs deputy before seek-ing election to the office.

The peace and quiet of a February morning were shattered for Clarence Jenkins of Cedar Hill Road in McCormick County when a Mother, 5 exposure. He dived into the lake after Neighbors in an attempt to save him. Alter the attempt failed, Towell walked to the park ranger's house for help. THE SITE of the main opera- Greenwood, S.C, Page Saturdayv Dec 27, 1969 District centered in Greenwood. H.

A. CAUDLE is the chairman of the organization. Other members are James Albert Harris, J. P. Hester, Harry E.

Newell, E. C. Rice W. M. Self Jr.

and E. M. Winn Jr. On Sept. 9 a fire destroyed the auto parts department and the service building of the H.t A.

Caudle Motor Co. in the heart of the McCormick business district. The blaze threatened to spread to two adjoining business establishments before it was brought under control. Damages resulting from the fire were estimated at over $100,000. The fire apparently started from an air compressor.

Volunteer firemen from McCormick and the Greenwood Fire Department battled the blaze for about an hour before bringing it under control. The McCormick plant of Riegel Textile Corp. announced plans in November to add about 15,000 square feet of space to its present facilities. UPON COMPLETION, the addition will provide immediate job openings for about 15 to 20 persons. By the end of its first year of operations, the addition is expected to provide employment for 50 to 60 new workers.

During the latter part of 1969 the McCormick County school district board of trustees and the county board of education received an ultimatum from the federal Department, of Health, Education and Welfare ordering the submission of a plan for the total mtegation of the school district within 30 days. After leveril lengthy evening sessions attended by officials from the S.C Department of Education and HEW, a plan for the elimination of the dual school structure was prepared and submitted to HEW on Dec. 17. The plan, termed a temporary one, Is to be Implemented on or before Jan. 15, 1970.

The school boards have Indicated they plan to nave a more complete plan ready in the near future. The complete plan is to go Into effect on or before May 25, .1970. wY at midnight Sunday brought on an expected rasa a wamo accident deaths. iimnttiti nnorted alnsle- ifeath accidents, each InvolvinB only one car. victims were Rob ert Wilson Rose, uarung-ton, killed five miles south of Reuben Thomas, 45 nf ramHon whnna car wrecked three miles west of Camden.

Calvin Keeler of St. Stephen was killed when hit car 'Tj in a lake here. James Neighbors, 28, fell from a boat while fishing with Park Ranger Richard Towell of Spartanburg. Towell has been released from a Spartanburg hospital after treatment for, over-exertion and Journal bomb blew up under his car as he backed from his driveway to go to work Feb. 10.

Jenkins received only minor injuries in the blast which demolished the 1963 Chevrolet. Two days later James Settles, a neighbor of the Jenkins family, was arrested and charged in connection with the investigation. DURING the October term of court of general sessions Settles Was found guilty of charges of assault and battery with intent to kill and was sentenced to serve eight years imprisonment. AIos in February John de la Howe School in McCormick County entered a building and expansion program which included the construction of a 16-bed infirmary, the remodeling of McKisslck Memorial Chapel and the reworking of the administration building and the school's gymnasium. The McCormick Commissioners of Public Works opened a new water filter plant in July near McCormick Elementary School.

The plant's capacity was Increased to 2,100,000 gallons per day at a cost of $174,987. The McCormick County Joint Planning Commission, an agency designed to study and assist In the comprehensive planning and development of the county, was organized in June under the guidance of the Upper Savannah Development Children North Carolina. Fire Chief Charles Griffin of the Manitou Park Fire Compa ny said the fire appeared to have followed the explosion of a kerosene space heater In the kitchen. All. six victims were found Jammed against the front door of their apartment one of three in the building, police said.

The other two apartments were va cant Police said the four room apartment was being con demned because ef inadequate sanitary facilities. were out looking for him, not knowing he had fallen asleep on the sofa when the fire started from a coal stove. Firemen found the body of Carl Franklin Cooper, 44, of Pickens under a bed In his four room frame house after they had put out a fire at the house they thought was unoccupied. Cooper had suffocated. 1 The holiday period that began at 6 p.m.

Wednesday and ends Hampers Searchers Mud and cold weather hampered progress of vehicles at the scene of search efforts. Larger vehicles, such as the head, quarters bus and diver's van had to be towed into the area by Chester Wants Retired Pccble i i rV'i, CHESTER, S.C (AP) Boost ers of small-town life in this community of 7,000 plan an 'advertising campaign to attract retired 'people. YjY. Coy Stroud, a retired vice president of the Goodyear Tire the hatterv that ooerated the small motor on tne wet. a puri of gloves found in the same jeeps with four-wheel-drive were rowth received a three-mill tax increase.

A budget of $208,000 for the town for the 1969-70 fiscal year provided a raise for employes with no Increase in taxes. FOUR SERVICE stations were approved to service town vehicles when the maintenance shop of Riegel announced that it could no longer accommodate the work. Town Council registered protests aj.ainst the telephone rate Increase sought by Greenwood-United Telephone and pledged to join the city and county of Greenwood In appealing the Increase that was granted by the S.C. Public Service Commission. Robert Lee Bell.

50, was killed In an explosion at the RIproI Plant Dec. 19. Four others were Injured. A pressurized heat exchange exploded Inthe package dyer Miss Margaret Ann Herring was crowned Miss Ware Shoals at 1969. Browning Bryant was the star attraction at the outdoor Quarter Century Club ban-, quet, honoring Riegel employes who have been with the company 25 years'.

The Christmas parade Dec. 8 followed a trail blazed by the town's hew Christmas decorations. In House Fire a bulldozer. Only trucks and able to move unaided. Yea Of A library board, composed C.

Jones and Mrs. Stewart of Mrs. jCarolyn Holloway, A. Thomson, was appointed by Town. Council April 14.

Open house was held Sept. 21. The library is housed in the renovated adult education building on Greenwood Avenue. JESSE RICHEY was appointed recorder for the recorder's court established by council in March. The law firm of Watson, Ayers and Shaw was named town attorney to replace Calvin Bridges, who became judge of the civil and domestic relations court in Laurens.

The town was awarded $322,140 by the Federal Water pollution control- ao-minlstratlon, on Sept. 1, to apply toward the, sewer project. One more grant, from HUD, is needed before the project can begin. i i Bonds were sold for the construction of a town hall, but the goal of beginning construction in 1969 was not realized. The desegregation plans of Ware Shoals School District 51 were approved by the U.S.

Department of Health, Education and Welfare, G. Royden and Charles were elected to the district board of trustees. The District applied for and 7969 In Review: Wa re By CHARLES MOORE Index-Journal Reporter WARE SHOALS The town of Ware Shoals has a fire station and a library that it did not have a year ago. In 1969 the town also set up a recorder's court and made plans to enter federally assisted housing programs. However, 1969 was a year of waiting for anticipated funds from the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development for the proposed $2.4 million water and sewer project. Ware Shoals had Its second birthday as an incorporated town on Jan. 20, 1969. MAYOR F. C.

McLANE and ran nff S.C. 402 near Moncks Corner and slammed into a tree. Also, Sury Rattray, 18, of Columbia In a crash near Columbia: Leroy Lane, 56, of Rt. 1, Ricnburs. whose car hit an em bankment 10 miles north of Great Falls; and Joseph Anderson 35, of Rt.

2, Georgetown, whose car hit a tree in the A two car wrecK near mui Una took the life of James Christopher Gerald 20, of Souh hoals Has five aldermen sought reelection to a second term In an election held Jan. 14. One of the original town aldermen, Truman May, did not seek reelection, as he had moved out of town. W. Arnold was elected to council.

McLane was reelected, along with Incumbent aldermen Harold Balentine, A. C. Jones, Jim McLain, Herman B. Medlock and Fred H. Westbrook.

Herman Medlock moved outside the town, and E. C. Richey was elected to council in a special election Oct. 14. A new fire station was built across the street from the main gate of the Riegel plant, at cost of $24,613.

Mulllns. 1 Traffic deaths reported earlier included Joyce Elaine Rein-hardt, 33, of Charlotte, N. C. near Lancaster; wooarow rses-hitt Rlnrkburn. 51.

of Bessemer City, N. near Gaffney; and James Lanarum, ana james Luther Whitfield, 62, in a two-car wreck In North Charleston. Pedestrian John Cohen, 55, Was hit by a car and killed a he ran across U.S. 17 north of Mount Pleasant. and Rubber and "Other members of -the Chester1 County Board of Commerce and Development say they will publicity in the Wan Street Journal and National Observer.

"I'm like a lot of people, fv always wanted a live in a small town," says Stroud, arid he's convinced other retired people will want to Join him Stroud 'said Chester' is enticing to retirees because of low housing costs, four distihctlea-sons and nearness to seaside and mountain resorts. Carolina Wtatlitr By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HLPr. Asneviue ciay 31 2 81 23 58 30 .02 4314 83 28' 4t 2t 47 27 4121 58 30 64 30 Augusta clear Charleston clear Charlotte clear Columbia dear Greensboro clear Greenville, S.C. clear Raleigh clear Savannah clear Wilmington dear Tnea AIM The traditional holiday stick, of vhiIii mnA anma fmilt ra passed out to prisoners the But this year's package con- I a Inn A tux, annlna. I.att var some prisoners pooled their ap BERKELEY TOWNSHIP N.J.

(AP) A mother and five of her nine children died early today when fire swept their apartment In a one-story wood frame house. Local authorities were In the process of condemning the structure. Mrs. Alfreds Small, 32, and the five children were dead on arrival at Community Memorial Hospital, Toms River. Two other boys were reported living here with relatives, a daughter spent the night at a friend's home and another son was away, visiting relatives In By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Fires and trafflo accidents have claimed at least 16 lives in the long Christmas holiday weekend In South Carolina.

Two Lamar men, Laurie J. Windham 64, and Lawrence Watford, 60, died In a blaze that destroyed their one-story frame house. Three-year-old B11W Jackson lost his life In a fire at the house of his grandparents. They lfire Carolina I. i i pica ami cunvuiou oicninui hard i i.