...A stick in the mud...

A story in a series of local "water-spots" in the county I did for the Advertiser.


Sandbar - a gathering spot like no other
By Kathleen Brown
For The Advertiser

There are some destinations that can be described as “off the beaten path,” the Sandbar, however requires a more complicated distinction.
This unique Lake Greenwood attraction can only be reached by boat, therefore it makes sense that the directions to the spot are by water and often include landmarks like restaurants and overpasses.

“You go under the bridge, across from Harris’ Landing,” said Mike Chumley of Laurens, “and then keep on going. You can’t miss the boats.”

The gathering spot that attracts literally boatloads of people everyday is merely a shallow stretch of land with a sandy floor that sits more than 100 yards from the nearest shore.

No one is quite sure who discovered the swath of land, and one can only imagine some unsuspecting boater surprised to find his vessel run ashore in the middle of the lake. Perhaps this explorer told a friend, who told a friend and so on, thus the Sandbar was created.

Speculations aside, the Sandbar has become the meeting place for people, young and old with access to a boat, a heavy anchor, and some time to spend.

Chumley grew up on and around Lake Greenwood and has many fond memories of the Sandbar.



“I remember going when we were kids with little boats.” Chumley said, although he notes that the spot was not the gathering place it is today due to the water level.

After years of drought in the mid 1990’s Lake Greenwood’s waters began to recede, and the Sandbar started to grow in size and popularity.

Chumley’s 17 year-old daughter, Raegan Chumley recalls sunny days during the Sandbar’s “growth spurt.”

“The thing I remember most is when they (the boaters) would set up the volleyball net,” Raegan said. “The water was as shallow as your calves.”

Although water levels are up on the lake this summer, the Sandbar continues to be a “hot-spot” for socializing day and night.

“The first thing out of somebody’s mouth when you get on the lake is ‘let’s go to the Sandbar’,” said Chumley.

Patience....

As the saying goes "patience is a virtue". A virtue that I would jump to live without, but unfortunately every day requires some amount of it. As goes waiting on deadline for some quotes and a picture.

The post below was referring to a story I did for the Laurens County Advertiser about retirees who are a part of the army of "pick-up men" for the local car dealers. Unfortunately these guys were on the go so much that I couldn't track them down for two days...two precious, life threatening days.

But in the end persistence paid off. I had already gone to the Advertiser to turn in my story with out a picture and without a single exciting graph in it. In other words the rule of thumb, as taught by Prof. Larry Timbs, "Why Should I Give A Shit" was not there.

But just as I was walking out the door the call came in that one of the road warriors was back and in Laurens. I rushed over, got the picture and got the anecdote I had been looking for the whole time.

Below is the finished story, which actually turned out okay.


Retirees Travel Road Less Traveled
by Kathleen Brown
For The Advertiser


Always on the move, the handful of men who do pick-ups of new and used cars for several of the car dealerships in town can be hard to reach, much less to persuade to keep their foot off the pedal long enough for a picture.

An “on-the-go” attitude is exactly what Bobby Cook, sales manager for Smith Chevrolet-Cadillac, looks for when hiring a driver, and it is exactly what can be found in the retirees that drive for the dealerships of Laurens County.

The drivers are given a destination, either a dealership or an auction yard where the purchased car awaits their arrival.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - Jerry Pulley, pictured, is a regular driver for Smith Cheverolet-Cadillac in Laurens. "I retired from work, and this way I get to see places I wouldn't ordinarily get to see," Pulley said. His favorite "on the job" memory happened last year while en-route to a car destination in Greensboro, N.C. At a Wendy's restaurant Pulley was reunited with a military comrade he had not seen since 1962. Unexpected people and places is just a part of the job for the pick-up drivers of Laurens.

“Normally we look for people in good health and a clean driving record.” Cook said. “These guys love to drive.”

Joe Leopard, 71, had retired from his job as supervisor at J.P. Watts Plant when he came across a job that required lots of time and a steady foot. Since working for the dealership, Leopard has clocked thousands of miles picking up cars and inspecting them before turning around with them to Laurens.

“One time we went 750 miles in one trip,” Leopard said.

Long trips are not rare, although most of their pick-ups are from North Carolina or Georgia.

Leroy Workman, 68, who drives for Firmin Ford, is used to the road trips. Formerly a tractor-trailer driver, Workman has been doing pick-ups for dealerships around the county for almost five years.

He now makes his trips “locally,” as he calls it, which means stops at Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, or any other number of Southeastern states.

Technology has made it easier for many of the drivers who now rely on their own GPS systems to get from place to place. Although some still rely on maps and an earful of directions.

Dealerships around the state all have similar pick up systems, according to Cook. The “road trip” starts with two drivers in one car provided by the dealer. The pair then makes their way to the car, and then splits up to make the trip home solo.

The goal is to pick up the vehicle and return it, quickly and safely to the dealership, but heavy traffic and unexpected problems can hinder a speedy return. Leopard recalls several times when the car he was supposed to bring back delayed the trip back.

“Sometimes when we pick up the car the tires are flat, or the battery will be dead and we’ve got to get them fixed,” Leopard said.

The thing most of the guys say they enjoy is the open road and a good driving partner.

“We get to meet different people, and riding down together (with other drivers) is good fellowship,” Leopard said.

Jerry Pulley, 69 has been driving for two years and credits the work for taking him all over the southeast as well as reuniting him with an old friend.

On a drive to Greensboro, N.C. for a pick-up, Pulley walked into a Wendy’s for a quick bite to eat before heading back to Laurens. When he walked in he thought he saw a familiar face, but he couldn’t quite remember who the man was.

The stranger turned out to be a close friend he had made in basic training. The two had not seen each other since 1962.

“Before I could place him he was walking right up to me,” Pulley said. “I would have never seen him, had I not been driving.”

Ughh....

I love deadlines, but relying on the key figure in your story, due in 3 hours, is a good way to get ulcers at a very young age.

So right now I am stalling, trying to figure out how to track down this guy. I am about to hire a bounty hunter or something.

"Give me an interview or else!"

Well I guess this would be a good time to write down a little bit about what has been going on during this summer.

In international news, sadly I have not been out of the country. If I had though I would have gone here:



Provence, France. I can't even look at a picture without nearly jumping off my chair.

In national news, also pathetic, I have not been out of my state. If I had, you best believe I would have gone here:



to Dinosaur Land in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley!!!!!!

"This classic dinosaur park features over two dozen colorfully-painted, old-style brutes -- and King Kong!"- Dinosaur Land's Webpage


That is all...

Award Winning Author Reaches Out

Story I wrote for the Laurens County Advertiser on Sheila P. Moses teaching a workshop at the Thornwell Home For Children.


The year is 1972 and a young women stands wide-eyed and breathless in a crowd of people listening to a determined African American woman speaking defiantly against the odds in an attempt to fight back against racial prejudice and to achieve her dreams.

Award winning author, Sheila P. Moses remembers vividly the impact left by the words of Shirley Chisholm, the first black major-party presidential contender for the United States on a campaign stop in her small North Carolina town.



“She came to my town to speak,” said Moses, “and that was the first time I saw a successful person outside of my community that told me, ‘you too can be great,’” said Moses.

The memory that Moses had of Chisholm has forever impacted her life, and she hopes to give a similar message to the children of Thornwell Home For Children.

Moses- author, poet, playwright, and producer- has been instructing classes of middle school and high school Thornwell students in a week-long writing workshop in the Thornwell Library.

The week began with an author’s reception hosted at the Gilliam Center Auditorium at Thornwell where Moses read from her self-proclaimed, “favorite book,” “The Legend of Buddy Bush,” which was published in 2003.

Her historical fiction novel was awarded the National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature in 2004 as well as the 2005 Coretta Scott King Author Honor title.

Her inspiration for the piece was very personal she said, as the entire book takes place in her hometown of Rich Square, NC, and centers around an infamous racial scandal.

Moses wanted her workshop attendees to work with what they knew best, and for some that meant writing their autobiographies. The stories of some of her students touched Moses on a personal level.

“These kids are not bitter about what is happening to them,” Moses said. “In a lot of the dedications they are writing, they are to their parents, Thornwell is a beautiful place, but everyone wants their mommy and daddy,”

For Moses, who has been hosting writing workshops since 1993, teaching at a “children’s home” was a new experience, but one that she said she has thoroughly enjoyed.



“I have taught at some of the finest private schools in the country, but nowhere have I seen such well adjusted children.” Moses said.

The workshop attendees were required to write a 10-page historical fiction story on the person of their choosing. The characters ranged from basketball player Magic Johnson to human rights activist, Malcolm X.

Moses encouraged the students to dig deeper into their characters’ lives. She urged the student who had chosen Magic not to focus on his basketball accomplishments, but on his work to improve HIV awareness.

Moses went on to praise the hard work the students had put into their writing in the short amount of time they were given to work.

“A lot of them came in here saying, ‘I can’t do it,’ “ Moses said, “and now they won’t stop writing for breaks.”

The idea for the workshop began when Moses learned of Thornwell through “a friend of a friend.” She contacted the school, and was quickly given the go-ahead for the program.

Lorain Crowl, Thornwell’s media director, explained that the organization has always sought out educational opportunities for the students during the summer when many school lessons are forgotten in the hot lazy days.

“The workshop gives a creative way to encourage students to keep their skills,” Crowl said. “They can have fun and probably learn more than they can in a whole English class.”

Anything to do with writing is a treat for Moses, who is determined to do her part to spread the love of writing wherever she goes.

“I used to write with a stick in the dirt and in the corners of the newspaper,” Moses said. “Writing is something that I will always do.”

Midway through the Wednesday high school class, Moses asked several of the students to read what they had completed on their stories.

Sheryl Richardson read her story, “I Am My Father’s Daughter.” based on author, Walter Dean Myers’ life, from the perspective of his daughter.

Her story was strikingly similar to that of many at Thornwell. A young boy, raised and loved by foster parents, goes on to achieve greatness.

“He began writing all day, every day,” Richardson read from her pages, printed from the computer she’d been working on.

Moses looked on, leaning forward, intent on catching every word.

“That was wonderful,” she said, moving back in her seat. Moses hopes to continue her relationship with Thornwell home saying that she would love to come back during the school year.

“I want them to know that they can fly as high as an eagle,” Moses said. “Just because they do not have a (traditional upbringing) does not mean that they cannot be great.”

Days Off Screen

Laurens City Parks and Recreation Department has been hosting a summer concert series for the last month at the "Little River Amphitheater" downtown. I took some pictures for a couple stand-alones in this week's Laurens County Advertiser.

The band last Thursday was local pop-punk band, Days Off Screen. They were a high energy band...even if the crowd wasn't really enthused...hah.

Art gallery challenges group to put on "thinking cups"

Story I did for the Laurens County Advertiser on the local Artist Co-Op gallery called the Artist's Coop who are doing an interesting fundraiser to raise money for a breast cancer support group in Laurens

Fay Edge, director of the Artist’s Coop’s fundraiser “Artsy Bras: Curves for the Cure” challenged the members of the Rainbow Connection support group to put their “thinking cups on,” at a reception held on July 6, at the Laurens County Hospital Meditation Garden.

“Our [the Artist’s Coop] challenge to you,” Edge said, “is to each design a bra for the auction.”

The unique fundraiser will feature handmade “art bras” fashioned by Laurens County residents for a silent auction that will go from Sept. 22 through Oct. 8 at the Artist’s Coop.



The Artist’s Coop began searching for a non-profit organization with which to split the profits of the fundraiser, and chose the Rainbow Connection, a breast cancer support group in Laurens County.

The group began almost 15 years ago and has continued to provide support and services to Laurens County citizens suffering from cancer, says Rainbow Connection’s facilitator, Pam Roper.

“We have women in all different stages,” Roper said. “Everyone who visits keeps coming because of the wonderful ladies [in the group] who have been through what they’re going through.”

During Monday’s reception, Edge introduced the title of the Coop’s fundraiser, “Curves for the Cure,” to the members of the group seated around the Meditation Garden patio.

“Did you say, ‘Curves for humor’?” jokingly asked Barbara Zegen, a survivor of breast cancer and longtime member of the Rainbow Connection.

According to Roper the entire group is always ready for a laugh.

“We have a lot of humor in the group, but we do get serious.” Roper said. “We cry together and we laugh together.”

The group of cancer patients and survivors meet at the hospital every first Monday to listen to a speaker, receive medical tips, or even watch a fun presentation of over-the-top feminine mastectomy lingerie.

“Whatever the topic,” said Margaret Miller a member of the group since 2002, “we go away from each meeting feeling spiritually renewed and knowing that we relate to each other in a way that only survivors of this frightening disease can.”

Edge said that the impact that the Rainbow Connection has had on the community is the reason the Artist’s Coop chose the group for the fundraiser.

“We can help each other, while helping women and their families,” Edge said.

The idea for the auction began when Edge heard about the South Carolina Quilter’s Guild’s fundraiser, “Artful Bra Exhibit.” Originally Edge hoped to arrange for the Guild’s exhibit to be shown in Laurens, but the waiting list was completely filled.

“I just decided we’d do our own project,” Edge said.

Edge hopes that decorated bras and lingerie will be filling up the Artist’s Coop by Thursday, Sept. 17 when the first submission date arrives.



Murmurs of “bunches of coconuts” and “hooters” were already circulating around the table from women seated at the reception Monday as they began to brainstorm about ideas for their submissions.

Roper hopes that the partnership with the Artist’s Coop will be a success.

“We want people to know that the money people will be spending will go to help people struggling with cancer, and (for) their families.”



Many of the members of the support group, such as Zegen, have come to consider the small group an extended family that they could not have lived without.

“We are all sisters,” Zegan said, “not by tragedy, but by our hearts.”

For more information on the “Artsy Bras: Curves for the Cure” fundraiser contact the Artist’s Coop at (864) 984- 9359.