05/01 UDT Pgs 1,3 4/30/10 3:45 PM Page 1 May 1, 2010 RELIVE HISTORY Saturday50¢ Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and again Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Cross Keys House as it travels back in time for the Living History Event III which will feature a reenactment of a luncheon with Jefferson Davis and several other activities! 100% recycled newsprint The Union Daily Times To subscribe, call 427-1234 Your hometown newspaper in Union, South Carolina, since 1850 Vol. 160, No. 86 www.uniondailytimes.com BREAKING GROUND FOR THE FUTURE Town of Lockhart turns out for ceremonies celebrating new Dollar General store By NATHAN CHRISTOPHEL [email protected] LOCKHART — Friends, colleagues, dignitaries and com- munity members gathered across the intersection of SC Highway 9 and Woodside Drive just outside Lockhart town limits to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for the eastern Union County community. “We are so proud to be here,” said Lockhart Mayor Ailene Ashe. “I appreciate everybody here.” She and the more than 50 people in attendance welcomed Dollar General into the Lockhart business community with Nathan Christophel photos/Times a groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning at the site Above, Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair, Lockhart council members Lee Brannon and Glen Stein, Lockhart Mayor Ailene where the discount retailer is building its newest Union Ashe, Lockhart council member Tammy Stamey, Dollar General Corporation Real Estate Manager for South Carolina and Western County store. “Dollar General is very excited and looks forward to get- North Carolina Tom Brown and owner of Patton Construction Tab Patton break ground at the site where Lockhart’s new Dollar General store will be located. See Groundbreaking, Page 11 Above, at left, Lockhart Mayor Ailene Ashe presents Dollar General’s Tom Brown with the key to the Town of Lockhart during the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday morning. Above, center, Ashe hugs Derrell Gault for all the work he did in helping locate the site for the new Dollar General Store. Above, at right, Lockhart Town Council member Glen Stein looks on as volunteers help set up the table that eventually would hold all of the refreshments for those who attended Friday morning’s ceremonies. Lockhart community members, dignitaries and several representatives from Dollar General Corporation and Patton Construction were on hand for the event. Hanging out turns into nightmare School district looking at with criminal domestic violence of a ting on top of her and punching her Union man arrested on high and aggravated nature, assault about the head and body with his fist. and battery of a high and aggravat- They said at one point Spencer got all options for FY 2011 several charges ued nature and three counts of point- irate again about some money he was ing and presenting a firearm. missing and pulled out a rifle and told Decisions will not jeopardize students’ education By CHARLES L. WARNER The incident report states a deputy them they could not leave until he [email protected] met Monday night with a man and a found his money. They said he point- By NATHAN CHRISTOPHEL according to Lawson who Hanging out turned into a night- woman about an altercation at ed the rifle at them and their friend [email protected] said a continued economic downturn which has con- mare for three people who allegedly Spencer’s residence. They said they and threatened to shoot them if he The Union County tributed to people not being were held at gunpoint for three hours were picked up by a friend and went did not find his money. The woman School District Board of able to pay property taxes Monday night. to the Frank Hill Loop residence to said Spencer even hit her in the Trustees has up until June and a decrease in sales tax Christopher Allen Spencer, 26, 246 hang out. While they were there, they mouth with the barrel of the rifle and 30 to approve a budget for — the main source of fund- Frank Hill Loop, Union, is charged by said they saw Spencer severely pulled her shirt and bra up and her fiscal year 2010-11. ing for the state and there- the Union County Sheriff ’s Office assault their friend, at one point get- It can wait right up to the See Crime, Page 6 fore school districts that deadline to do so, but dis- rely heavily on state fund- trict finance director Lynn ing to operate. Lawson said that’s not the Union County has preferred option. Although, Help find Union County’s ‘Most Wanted’ already made some hard with a budget year that is decisions to cope with a That’s the goal of this weekly feature in each Saturday’s edition of The Union Daily Times. The photos, names and crimes of forcing the district to look budget that looks to be at the individuals sought by the Union County Sheriff’s Office and/or the Union County Clerk of Court’s Office will be carried each at some tough decisions — fiscal year 1994-95 levels or week to make their identities known to the general public so they can be brought to justice. including the elimination of lower in 2010-11 and cur- This week’s most wanted are Kenneth Jeter of Spartanburg and Eric Whitener of Union who each are wanted on General several teaching positions rently is continuing the Sessions bench warrants. — it could be sometime in process to balance its budg- June before a school district et. budget is actually set. No matter what the dis- Kenneth Eric Bracing for yet another trict has to do, that budget cut in funding before the must be balanced. district approves a FY 2011 Jeter Whitener “We have to meet all budget, Lawson and new those deadlines, but we also superintendent Dr. Kristi DATE OF BIRTH: DATE OF BIRTH: have to present them (the Woodall should be able to school board) with a bal- May 11, 1962 Dec. 19, 1966 bring a rough draft of the anced budget,” Lawson budget to board members by WANTED ON: WANTED ON: said. the second meeting in May Balancing the budget General Sessions General Sessions at the latest but still might means looking at all of the not be sure of what they bench warrant bench warrant district’s options, including will have to work with in the cutting of personnel. PLACE OF PLACE OF the next fiscal year. Woodall said teacher con- The cuts in recent years RESIDENCE: RESIDENCE: tracts have already gone out to education across the state and been signed for next Spartanburg Union have been due to a “perfect If you see either of these men, contact Crime Stoppers at 864-427-0800. You may qualify for a reward and you do not have to give your name. storm” of circumstances, See Schools, Page 6 SPECIAL SALUTE Pacolet student finalist for Proton TODAY’S I Lady Wolverines are shut out 4-0 in first game of WEATHER playoffs, see the full story in today’s Sports section on page 7. Energy Scholarship I Soccer team looks to learn from mistakes made this Wallingford, CT — Global hydrogen istered by the Hydrogen Education year, see the full story in today’s Sports section on page 7. leader Proton Energy Systems is about Foundation (HEF). The 10 finalists will to make higher education dreams a reali- now vie for the top prize, to be announced ty for some high school seniors. at the NHA Hydrogen Conference and This week the company announced Expo on Tuesday. the finalists for the Proton Energy The Proton Energy Scholarship recog- Mostly Cloudy Scholarship, a $1 million scholarship pro- nizes and awards high school seniors High Low gram supported and funded by Tom who demonstrate outstanding achieve- Sullivan, Proton's chairman, and admin- See Scholarship, Page 6 80s 60s INSIDE ANNIE’S MAILBOX 5 COMICS 10 LIFESTYLES 5 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS 11 CHURCH 3 CROSSWORD 10 RELIGION 9 TELEVISION 2 today CLASSIFIED 8-9 HOROSCOPE 10 SPORTS 7 VIEWPOINT 4 udt 10pgs 5-1.qxd 4/30/10 7:31 PM Page 2 The Union Daily Times Have a news tip for us? Saturday, May 1, 2010, Call 427-1234 Union, S.C. — Page 2 Record or email us at [email protected] Today in history Today’s weather Heavy winds and high The Associated Press Today is Saturday, May 1, SATURDAY the 121st day of 2010. There Forecast for SATURDAY, May 1 are 244 days left in the year. tides hamper Gulf oil fight Today's Highlight in History: CAIN BURDEAU toward the coast, com- plants on the ecologically On May 1, 1960, the Spartanburg Soviet Union shot down an 60o 83o Associated Press Writer pounded by thunderstorms fragile coastline. A rescue MOUTH OF THE MIS- expected in the area. The operation at Fort Jackson, American U-2 reconnais- Greenville o o SISSIPPI RIVER — Heavy sance plane over Sverdlovsk 63 82 wind was pushing oily about 70 miles southeast of Union winds and high tides com- water over the booms meant New Orleans, had its first and captured its pilot, o o 61 84 plicated efforts to hold back to contain it. patient Friday, a young Francis Gary Powers, who oil that threatened to coat More than 200,000 gallons northern gannett found off- was later convicted of espi- birds and other marine life of oil a day are spewing shore. The bird is normally onage but returned to the as it oozed ashore from the from the blown-out well at white with a yellow head United States in 1962 in Gulf of Mexico on Friday.