The Star And Beacon from Ninety Six, South Carolina • Page 2

2 Ninety Six, THE STAR BEACON ABOUT Us LOCATION 111 East Main Street Ninety Six, SC HOURS 9a.m.-6p.m. Monday-Friday CONTACT INFO Phone: 864-543-3444 Fax: 864-543-3440 Mail: 111 East Main Street, Ninety Six, SC 29666 Editor's Email: Advertising Email: OUR MISSION The Star Beacon is published with pride for the people of Ninety Six and surrounding communities in Greenwood County by the Ninety Six Publishing Inc. We believe that strong locally owned newspapers help build strong communities. OUR STAFF Mundy Burns Price Publisher David Morgan Editor Joan Butler Manger Ed Roberts. Ad Sales JoNell Fallaw Office Assistant Ike Dickey Sports Writer SUBSCRIPTION RATES For Ninety Six Greenwood 6 Months $15 1 Year $21 Other areas 6 Months $18 1 Year $24 SUBMISSIONS The Star Beacon encourages readers to submit items of interest to the newspaper for publication.

There is no charge for running items involving community activities, weddings, engagements, obituaries, Anniversaries of 50 years or greater and birthdays of children 1-10 years old. We will print photographs accompanying such announcements free of charge. We ask that you submit items well in advance of the desired date of publication. Items appear on a space-available basis since there is no charge. may also be submitted to the newspaper for publication.

They should be clear, in focus and of proper exposure. People in the photographs should be clearly identified with full names. Include the name and number of a contact person. The latest an item can be submitted is noon on Thursday. ADVERTISING For rates or to place a classified ad or display ad, please call 543-3444.

Full and spot color is available. Deadline is 12:00 noon on Thursday. ACCURACY POLICY News The Star Beacon strives to produce error-free news reports. When there are mistakes, it is our policy to correct them as soon as we are aware of them. To request a correction, please call David Morgan at 543-3444.

Advertising The publisher assumes no liability for merchandise incorrectly priced through typographical error and in no event will liability be assumed where goods are sold at the incorrect price. Advertisements do not imply endorsement. S.C. Wednesday, March 19, 2008 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Story behind memorial flags If you have ever passed a cemetery in Greenwood, Abbeville and McCormick County on Memorial Day Weekend and seen the American flags flying from numerous graves, you will agree they are a beautiful and I meaningful way to memorized our veterans. The story behind these memorial flags are in the following paragraphs.

About the year 2000, two disabled veterans decided to honor deceased veterans in their community. They purchased some American flags with their own money and placed them on the graves of veterans. These men were Buddy Reeves and Preston Rogers. When they told some of their buddies at the Disabled American Veteran's meeting about how good it made them feel to honor the deceased veterans in this way, the whole group decided they wanted to honor deceased veterans. It was decided to do this every Memorial Day, which is a day to honor fallen veterans.

The origin of Memorial Day goes back to the War Between The States. Graves of fallen soldiers were decorated with flowers. It is for this reason Memorial Day is also known as "Decoration Day." The next thing that needed to be done was to collect money to purchase flags By word of mouth and some articles printed in the local newspapers. The chapter of the DAV collected enough money to buy flags. The men banded with the Vietnam Veterans of America and they all decided to do this project in three counties because the group had members in Abbeville, Greenwood and Mc- Cormick counties.

As this time, we are having to replaced some of our flags because of sun damage, bad weather and from birds sitting on the staffs. Some flags were torn from the artificial flowers. The amount of money needed at this time will replace 3,000 flags. We also keep a flag fund account at all times. If you would like to contribute, please send a check to: DAV Chapter 42, PO Box 2071 Greenwood, S.C.

Our PO Box is at Mathews. First, they had to determine how many flags would be needed. The veterans in the DAV and VVA banded with other veterans groups around the counties and began to spread out, with volunteers locating and recording all veterans graves in the three-county area. An estimated 5,000 graves were recorded. They needed at least that many flags.

One of the ways they raised money was to have a gigantic yard sale with many people and organizations making donations. Among the organizations were the Pilot Club and the Woodmen of the World. were ordered. McCormick County decided to handle its own flag posting. Abbeville and Greenwood counties are handled together.

In 2007, we had about 150 volunteers. Some of them were: Children of the American Revolution, Cub Scouts, Boy Scout Troop 220, Emerald High School ROTC, Patriot Guard Riders, S.C. State Guard, Masons, Veterns of Foreign Wars, American Legion, DAV and DAVA, VVA, the youth groups of Mountain Creek Baptist Church and Durst Avenue Church of God, Marine Corps League, Fleet Reserve, the county Veterans Affairs office staff, individuals and families. After the flags are posted, they remain out for about one week and then the same groups pick them up. They are carefully stored by some DAV members.

Some of the flags cannot be used again due to damage or soiling. They are destroyed according to protocol. New flags have to be purchased from time to time. Monetary donations are always appreciated for this project. A record of each cemetery in the counties is kept in a computer program.

We try to update as flags are posted each year. We receive new names of veterans each year that may not have a marked grave. Some churches agree to post their own flags we donate. Oakbrook Cemetery posts flags on its veterans graves. Most the volunteers come back year after year to help.

They express how they feel good to be able to honor those who have served to protect our freedom. On May 22 at 9 a.m., we will meet at the American Legion Post 20 parking lot in Greenwood to distribute flags and cemetery lists. We will be glad to have your help. This is a very special way to remember deceased veterans. God Bless American's Veterans.

Larry Banks, Commander DAV Chapter 42. Telephone 378-3940 Upcoming elections announced Listed below are upcoming elections for 2008: The City of Greenwood municipal election will be April 8. The only race that will appear on the ballot is Commissioner of Public Works, The incumbents in City Ward Seats 1, 3, and 5 were the only candidates filing for those seats and they will be declared the winners. Only registered voters residing in the Greenwood city limits can vote in this election. Ninety Six School District 52 and Ware Shoals District 51 will have their annual trustee elections May 13.

Ninety Six will have two seats and two write-in options on their ballot. Ware Shoals will also have to seats and two write-ins. Only registered voters i in the Ninety Six and Ware Shoals school district boundaries are eligible to vote. The Republican and Democratic Party elections will be June 10. It is very important to remember you cannot vote in both primary elections.

Neither election has a write-in option. If the candidate does not have opposition from with his or her political party for the seat they are vying for, their name will not appear on the ballot until the November general election. This will be a countywide election. The General election will be Nov. 4.

There will be five separate elections on that day. The general election will include federal, state and local races. Other scheduled elections are the municipal elections for Hodges, Troy and Ware Shoals and the Greenwood School District 50 board of trustees. Each race will allow for the' write-in option except the office of President and Vice President. The area where a voter lives will determine the election or elections in which he or she is qualified to vote.

The general election ballot may also contain constitutional amendment questions and possible referendum questions. Anyone who is 65 or older, or disabled, can automatically qualify to vote by absentee ballot if they desire. The request can made to the Voter Registration Office by the voter or an immediate family member. A voter can also vote absentee in person at the Greenwood County Voter Registration Elections Office. If you know that you will be away on election day because of employment, vacation, medical reasons, etc.

call the office to see if the ballot is ready for absentee voting. Voters are urged not to delay. Absentee ballots will be Turn That Old Junk Into Quick Cash WE BUY: Insulated Copper Wire Old Air Conditioners WE ALSO BUY: Junk Cars $100 $150 Old Car Batteries $5 ea. Aluminum Wheels $12 ea. Catalytic Converters big GM $80 Domestic $40 Small Foreign $80 Radiators $12 Alternator Starters $3 ea.

Transmissions $15 ea. CALL JAMES Cell 123083 OBITUARIES ES Letters to the Editor mailed to those voters who requested this service after Jan. 1. It is not too late, however, to request an absentee ballot for any or all elections this year. Once the office verifies the applications, the ballot will be mailed to the voters, as soon as the ballots are ready.

The ballot is usually ready six to eight weeks prior to an election. The ballot for the Greenwood municipal election is currently ready. The ballots for the District 51 and 52 school trustees elections should be ready by late March. The ballots for the 2008 primary election will be ready by late April. For information on voting absentee by mail or in the office, or to make a request for an absentee ballot, call the Greenwood County Voter Registration Elections Office a4 942-8585.

Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is at Suite 113, Park Plaza Building, 600 Monument St. REFINISHING Porcelain, Fiberglass, Ceramic Tile or Acrylic Bath Tub Liners Installed.

We Convert Bathtubs Into Showers! 26 Years Experience CALL BATHLINERS FREE: 1-888-511-2284 Greenville, SC 123264 www.bathliners.com Tom Bennett Services for Thomas E. Bennett were Saturday, March 15, at Temple Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnny McDaniel officiating. Burial was in Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers were Andy Bell, Robert Metter, Bill Smallwood, Tom Crawford, Stanley Owens, Eugene Fox, Jamie Walker and David Stapleton.

Honorary escort were the men of Temple Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church, 95 Saluda Street, Ninety Six, SC 29666 or to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646. Mr. Bennett, 77, of 244 Saluda Street, Ninety Six, husband of Catherine Scruggs Bennett, died Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at his home.

Born in Rock Hill, he was a son of the late Walter E. and Vinelia Garner Bennett. He was retired from Velux and was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was an avid camper and was a member of Temple Baptist Church and the Men's Bible Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Kathy Stapleton and her companion, Gary Danser, of Ninety Six; a son, Mark Bennett and his wife, Michelle, of Greenwood; a grandson, Thomas Bennett; two granddaughters and a great-granddaughter, Nicole Stapleton. He was preceded in death by a son, Mike Bennett.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com. Tedd R. Smith Tedd Ronald Smith, 70, of 109 Eagle Road, Greenwood, husband of McClendon Smith, died Thursday, March 13 at Hospice House, Greenwood. Born in Buffalo, S.C. on October 12, 1937, he was the son of the late Jay Gus "Jack" Smith and Ruth Lawson Thomas.

He retired from the United States Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, serving from 1956 1978. He served in VA 174 with Senator John McCain, VP16, 4 VP18, VP31, VP46, VP30, VA56 and VP24. His tours of duty included the Cuban Crisis and Unitas Tour. After military retirement, he was employed by Greenwood Mills (Compound) and Jarvis Cutting Tools of Greenwood. He was a member of Harris Baptist Church, where he was in the Co-Ed 4 Sunday School Class and the Joy Group.

He had been an avid square dancer and a past president and member of the Southern Squares of Abbeville. He loved to work his garden and share the vegetables he grew. One of his favorite pastimes was watching the Atlanta Braves play ball. He enjoyed his participation in the HOST program at a local school. Most of all, he dearly loved and cherished his family and friends, especially his granddaughters.

Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter and sonin-law, Lynn and Ricky Duff of Hodges; a sister-in-law, Debbie Miller, that he cherished as a daughter; one sister and brother-in-law, Sadie and Clyde Baldwin of Lucedale, MS; one stepbrother, David Thomas of Greenville; two stepsisters, Gerri Skinner of Greenville and Jackie Childress of Greenwood; two granddaughters, Heather Jones Simmons and her husband, Josh, of Samson, AL and Amanda Duff of Greenwood and a great- granddaughter, Abryanna Brown. Services were Sunday, March 16, at Harris Baptist Church with The Rev. Frank Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were his nephews, Mike Baldwin, McClendon, Davis McClendon, Jason McClendon, Jamie McClendon, Corbett Miller and friends, Bruce Hudson and Tim Thomas.

Honorary escort will be his nieces, Denise Buckheister, Dianne McNeill, Jessica McClendon, Elizabeth McClendon, Ginger Baldwin and Bailey Miller; members of the Co-Ed 4 Sunday School Class, Joyce Smith and Norris and Linda Wilson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Harris Baptist Church building fund, 300 Center Street, Greenwood, S.C. 29649 or to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, Hospice House, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, S.C. 29646.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com. Joe Chaney Sr. Joseph Wilson "Joe" Chaney 68 of 1188 Chappells Highway, Ninety Six, died Saturday, March 15, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital, Greenville. Born in Saluda County; a son of the late Benny Wilson and Louise Leopard Chaney.

He was former owner of Chaney's Heating Cooling. He was a member of Lowell Street United Methodist Church, the Army Reserves, and the Big Red Hunt Club in Saluda. He was predeceased by a son Benji Chaney. Surviving are a daughter and son in-law, Cathy and Chris Smith of Ninety Six; a son and daughter in-law Joseph Wilson Jr. and Terri Chaney; three sisters, Betty Biggerstaff of Newberry County, RoseAnn Boone and Joyce Petticord both of Camden; five grandchildren, Travis and Chaney Smith, Sarah Catherine, Joseph Benjamin and Josuha Hampton Chaney.

Services were Tuesday, March 18, at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with The Rev. Richard Waldrep officiating. Burial followed in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Jimmy Boone, Robert Jackson, Mark McDonald, John Cockrell, Michael Petticord, Bobby Price, and Michael Werts. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Greenwood, SC, 29646..

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome..