Robert H. Roper III, Past S.C. Division Commander Featured Speaker

The 2012 Confederate Memorial Service held in Springwood Cemetery on North Main Street in Greenville, South Carolina, Sunday, May 6th, drew a capacity crowd.

A prelude of soul-stirring music by the Kendall, Neely and Verdin family Musical Ensemble permeated the historic cemetery where hundreds of Confederate soldiers and their families were laid to rest.

Hunter Kendall gave the bugle Call to Church.

David Wright, Commander, 16th Regiment SCV, issued the Call to Order, with Invocation by SCV National and 16th Regiment Chaplain Mark Evans.

Family Members Insisted “Parents Treated As Enemies”

The three member ad hoc committee appointed by Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven to look into complaints about the county Disabilities and Special Needs Board held a one-hour public hearing Monday evening.

The committee members are Dan  Rawls, Lottie Gibson and Liz Seman serving as chairman. Twenty individuals, limited to 3 minutes each, were allowed to address the committee. The concerned parents were in no mood to “sugar coat” their comments.

Left to right: 3rd VP of Winnie Davis Chapter 442 UDC Pamela Evans, UDC President General Martha Van Schaick, SC Division President Eloise Verdin, Piedmont District Director Julia Barnes, SC Division Registrar Nita Keisler at Elmwood Cemetery.

The Supreme Court Decision that removed an estimated 100 Republican and Democrat candidates from primary ballots last week is a dramatic example of the need to get state government out of the internal affairs of political parties.

The legislature passed a law requiring all challengers to file their Statement of Economic Interest at the same time and with the same individual that they file for the office. The law does not apply to incumbents. State party officials did not make certain all county party officials knew about the law and, therefore, a large number of first-time candidates were uninformed or misinformed.

I am weary of narrow-minded, finger pointing bigots damning Romney for being Mormon. It is as if they are agents of the liberal left trying to sow dissension in the Conservative and Republican ranks. Romney was not my choice for the Republican nomination, and has many issues that concern me, but his Mormon faith is not one of them. Don’t these critics realize how shrill and foolish they look and make the rest of us look to the undecided voters who will determine this election? “Mormonism is a Cult!” “They part their hair on the wrong side!” By their definition of “cult,” every major religion except Judaism and Hinduism are cults – including all Christians. Protestants are the newest branch of religion, only some 600 years old (Martin Luther), and it has not been long since Baptists and Methodists did not accept each other as true Christians! Listen folks, any person who accepts Christ as his Savior, is saved by the Grace of God, and attempts to lead his life by Biblical principles, is a Christian. The details are between them and God. And the Mormons I have known have lived up to that standard well. Sure there are bad ones, and fringe groups- don’t we have plenty, too?

Well, it is that time of year again when I would like to remind everyone about the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion (this year will be the 25 year)which has been “a gospel music family gathering since 1988” and will again to be in Greenville this year. This year’s event will be held at The Hyatt Hotel. There seems to be some confusion about this year’s event since all the activities are at the Hyatt. If you are local and want to attend only the concerts or other events that occur during the day you can do so without staying at the hotel. The Thursday night concert will be dinner and a concert at a cost of $67. Friday and Saturday night concerts will be the same venue as in the past at a cost of $27 each night.

Virtually every family and business in the Upstate is impacted in one way or another by addiction. Law enforcement leaders have said that alcohol and other drugs are factors in a majority of traffic fatalities and serious crime in our community.

Christians know that “All things are possible through Jesus Christ.” They know that the answers to all their problems are contained in their Bible but they don’t always know where to find them.

When Christians are faced with an addicted family member who is being abusive, committing crimes, unreliable as a worker and eventually facing prison, they will usually seek advice and help from their pastor. Unless pastors are familiar with Wisdom in Living Life Ministry, they have little choice but to refer them to a private or government operated treatment facility where they are “treated” and released into the environment they came from. There is an alternative. There is a Christ-Centered, Bible-Based method for ending addiction once and for all that has proven successful for more than a decade. We need it and it needs us. We have an opportunity to take part in a proven effective Bible-based method of changing lives.

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, John Wheeler... after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep...Acts 13:36.  He was ushered into the presence of his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

John Evan Wheeler, the most beloved husband, for almost fifty years, of Sara Ann (Sally) Swett, was born May 7, 1937, to George Ellis Wheeler, Sr and Annie Mae Lanford Wheeler

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him,” Prov. 20:7.  He was a godly father and grandfather to Anne Bythewood Wheeler Broyles, son-in-law David Broyles and children, Katherine Rebecca B. King (Ian), Sara Jane, Gilbert Evan, and Caroline Elizabeth.  His son, John Evan Wheeler, Jr, daughter-in-law Mary Whitten Wheeler and children Ellis Grace and Sadie Caroline.  Also his daughter, Sara Lee Wheeler.  Who all adored him!

Republican National Convention Set For Tampa, Florida Monday, Aug. 27 - Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012

Delegates to the Fourth Congressional District GOP Convention elected Greenville County Republican Party Chairman Betty Poe and Spartanburg County Republican Party Chairman LaDonna Riggs delegates to represent the district at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, this summer. The convention begins Monday, August 27, 2012, and ends Thursday, August 30, 2012.

Stephen Brown, from Greenville and Karen Floyd from Spartanburg were chosen as alternate delegates.

“Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country.” We can do that by shining the light of truth on the lies and distortions coming out of Washington, DC  daily.

Former presidential candidate Herman Cain may have spoken the truth when he said the current occupant of the White House was elected by the ignorant and stupid. He should have added that the Obama leadership cadre came from the well-trained hard-core leftist students of Sixties radical Sol Alinsky and the Columbia University  anarchist team of Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven, not to mention former bomb-throwers and now tenured professors at the University of Chicago, Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dorn.

Candidate Admits Voting in 2008 Democrat Primary

The surprise withdrawal of Sen. Phil Shoopman from the District 5 Republican Senate primary has triggered a potential major crisis for the Republican Party locally and at the state level.

Immediately, stories began to surface alleging that there was more to the Shoopman withdrawal from the race than has been made public, including a possibility that he was nudged from the race by unnamed individuals in positions of influence.

Board Chair, Acting Director Observed from Back of Chamber

About 60 representatives of families with members being served by the massive Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Agency filled Council chambers for the April 17 Greenville County Council meeting. Eight of the family members were able to address the Council during the 30 minutes allowed for constituent remarks. They discussed the importance of the agency to their families and the stress on families brought about by recent confusion, turmoil, uncertainty and unexplained personnel changes.

[Editor’s note: This is a collection of thoughts, impressions and photographs submitted by the writer with additional information provided by Paul Howell, Director Honor Flight Upstate SC.]

There are no words to properly convey the experience of witnessing the launch and return of an “Honor Flight!”  There is no easy way to tell the story of those who were here today, many books have already been written about “The Greatest Generation.”  Rather than try to write their names or attempt to capture their words, thoughts, stories or feelings; the camera gave them a forum to express themselves. It is in their eyes mostly, but when you get closer, it becomes almost a physically palpable feeling, the unconditional, unquenchable love for their Country and their fellow ‘Brothers-in-Arms.’

Greenville County has a commendable ethics code for board and commission members. Tragically, the code has not been uniformly enforced in the past and some current members of boards and commissions are allegedly serving in violation of the code and are lobbying for relaxation of the ethics rules. Unfortunately, some members of the Greenville County Council appear inclined to change the code rather than enforce it.

The code is very clear and applies to applicants for positions on boards and commissions.

Mayor Ray Mortimeyer of Cuba, Missouri, Has Upstate Connection

Mayor Ray Mortimeyer of Cuba, Missouri, easily won his 6th term as mayor by a vote of 368 to 150, April 5th, 2012. He is the father of First Lieutenant, Pamela Durham, USAF (Ret.) of Greenville, and a long-time subscriber to The Times Examiner.

State Party Exercises Discretion, Re-Opens Filing Period for 48 Hours

Greenville County Republicans were stunned when they learned over the weekend that their popular conservative State Senator Phil Shoopman was suddenly withdrawing his name from consideration in the upcoming Republican Primary in Senate District 5. The announcement came only three  weeks after filing for re-election.

Shoopman, a Blue Ridge resident confirmed to The Times Examiner, Sunday evening, that he had notified SC GOP Chair Chad Connelly earlier in the day that he was withdrawing from the race because, “It has become obvious that I cannot continue to provide the desired level of service and maintain adequate time with my family and private work.”

Conservative Students for a Better Tomorrow (CSBT) recently hosted a reception and speaking engagement featuring David Keane, President, National Rifle Association (NRA). The reception held in the University Center featured photos opportunities, personal conversation and discussion between gun enthusiasts, elected officials, the media and students with President Keane. Many of the local race candidates circulated freely in the reception meeting and greeting new and old friends and supporters. Local News Radio WORD FM personality Bob McLain was also on hand to greet Mr. Keane.

Governor Stresses: “It’s a Great Day in South Carolina”

Superintendent of Education Dr. Mick Zais received an enthusiastic standing ovation following his remarks at the Fourth Congressional District GOP Convention, Saturday.

Dr. Zais, the first conservative pro-student superintendent of education in South Carolina in several decades, has reduced the size of his state department staff by 50 spaces and saved the taxpayer $2 million.

He has advocated a strong charter school bill that has been passed by the House and is pending passage in the Senate.

Jane Kizer (at left) at Greenville County Republican Headquarters filing her candidacy for Senate District 7. She is unopposed in the Republican primary. Kizer is assisted by Deb Jolly and Geri Warren.

The sign on the door of the convenience store reads: “We Card.” It means that if you appear to be young, you must produce a photo ID proving you are old enough to legally purchase tobacco or alcoholic beverages. If the store is caught selling the substances to underage customers, they can be fined.

When I purchase Claritin over the counter at a drug store, I must produce a photo ID. To use any facility on a military base or at the VA Clinic, I must show a photo ID. Most businesses that accept checks for payment require photo IDs. Sometimes they are requested when a credit card is used. Passports contain photographs of the holder of the passport. The photograph is necessary to prove that the holder is the individual whose name appears on the passport.