| PAGE LABEL EVEN | INSIDE: MORE THAN $251 IN COUPONS AND SAVINGS IN TODAY’S ISSUE! Vol. 117 No. 51 www.upstatetoday.com WEEKEND March 13-14, 2021 $1.25 TTHEHE JJOURNALOURNAL Electric Time technician Dan LaMoore puts a clock hand onto a 1,000-pound, 12-foot diameter clock constructed for a resort in Vietnam on Tuesday in Medfield, Mass. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sun- day, when clocks are set ahead one hour. ASSOCIATED PRESS READY TO RUN: Annual Race for the Green returns today. B1 | ON A ROLL: Tigers top Furman to extend winning streak. C1 SENECA OCONEE SCHOOLS Official: District ‘She’s giving me life’ awarded millions in COVID relief More potentially on the way with Biden signing latest bill BY GREG OLIVER with President Joe Biden THE JOURNAL expected to formally sign the latest COVID-19 relief WALHALLA — Since measure, which took place the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday, more funding hit last spring, the School appears headed to Oconee District of Oconee Coun- County. During the past ty has received a total of year, the district has nearly $14 million from received awards of $2.1 four waves of COVID-19 million, $1.3 million, $1.1 relief funding. million and its most re- District superintendent cent award of $9.4 million. Michael Thorsland told “It could dwarf school board trustees earlier this week that SEE DISTRICT, PAGE A5 SENECA LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL Amy Cheff, left, is getting a kidney Tuesday from her longtime friend, Seneca City Councilwoman Denise Rozman. Utica woman wants Seneca councilwoman fulfilling promise with kidney donation BY NORM CANNADA more than a decade ago from to spark healing in THE JOURNAL her longtime friend, Seneca City Councilwoman Denise SENECA —Amy Cheff is Rozman. getting a dialysis treatment She and Rozman first old mill community this morning, just as she has became friends in 2006, when done three times a week for Rozman called her after she BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR more than three years. visited Foothills Church. The THE JOURNAL Editor’s note: In light of The two-and-a-half-hour two met in person at a local Clemson University partner- procedure leaves her fa- restaurant. SENECA — While de- ing with Oconee County to tigued and needing a nap. “I shared the gospel with tails are still being ironed develop a plan for the Utica Sometimes she passes out. Amy and she put her faith out, one Utica resident Opportunity Zone tract for But if all goes well, today in Jesus, and for the next is working to establish a potential investors, The Jour- will be her last dialysis treat- eight weeks, I discipled her,” recovery support environ- nal is working to share the ment — ever. Rozman said. “We went ment for members of the stories of residents living on She is scheduled to get a through just a little book on mill hill community. the mill hill. Anyone involved new kidney on Tuesday. how to grow in your faith. Jessica Mallows, who in the mill community want- The kidney transplant at During that time, I got to SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL lives in the mill commu- ing to share their story can Wake Forest Baptist Health know Amy pretty good, and If everything goes well with her kidney trans- nity but declined to have send an email to rmorning- in Winston-Salem, N.C., is plant surgery Tuesday, Amy Cheff will not [email protected]. the fulfillment of a promise SEE PROMISE, PAGE A5 have to endure any more dialysis treatments. SEE HEALING, PAGE A6 OCONEE COUNTY Sheriff wants plan based on growth, not tax increase BY BRIAN GRAVES not come all at once, and The cost of 25 new First-year costs include base pay of $34,840. The on how the number of the THE JOURNAL he will try to get a plan officers, if hired all at salaries, vehicles, train- addition of FICA, retire- county’s law enforcement based on the growth of the one time, would carry ing, bulletproof vests, ment, workers’ compen- staff compares to other WALHALLA — Oconee county’s tax base and not a first-year cost of $2.5 rifles and other items sation and health, dental counties. County Sheriff Mike on increased taxes. million, with a price tag of with one-time costs of and vision insurance “If you look at the popu- Crenshaw is seeking a pay Crenshaw wants as nearly $100,000 per officer. nearly $43,000, according makes a total of $54,930 lation of the county, with raise for employees and many as 25 new officers In year two, the price to Oconee County admin- per officer. the total number of sworn additional officers, but spread out over the next tag would drop to $1.37 istrator Amanda Brock. The sheriff said he acknowledges that will few years. million. A new deputy gets a needs to do more research SEE SHERIFF, PAGE A8 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SOUTH CAROLINA D1 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 LIFESTYLE B1 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D4 OBITUARY B2 STOCK REPORTS D3 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 Everyone else’s time is just COMICS B3 OPINION A4 WORSHIP D2 as precious as yours. B5 THE KEOWEE LIFE 113 Tranquil Cove MLS #20232125 Architectural perfection in this beautiful home in the Cliffs at Keowee Springs! 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms! Screened porch! Outdoor kitchen! | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 Oconee, Pickens dents quarantined, with school districts give seven students testing COVID case updates positive. Fire contained WALHALLA — The Three ICU beds open School District of Oconee late Thursday at OMH Friday’s COVID-19 County said Friday that numbers at a glance a Bountyland Education SENECA — There in national forest Campus employee was were three beds avail- Confirmed Confirmed Percent the only person in the able in the intensive care BY BRIAN GRAVES cases deaths positive district to test positive unit at Prisma Health THE JOURNAL for COVID-19 the previ- Oconee Memorial Hospi- South Carolina xx xx xx% ous day. tal late Thursday night, MOUNTAIN REST — A Oconee County xx xx xx%* According to the according to numbers fire that engulfed a por- School District of Pick- updated by the S.C. De- tion of the 371,000 acres Pickens County xx xx xx%* ens County’s weekly partment of Health and of the Sumter National * Seven-day moving average update, 27 students and Environmental Control Forest for more than two Cumulative cases eight staff members test- (DHEC). days has been contained. ed positive for COVID-19 DHEC reported nine U.S. Forest Service pub- SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL South Carolina: xx cases, xx deaths this week, while 201 of the 12 hospital’s listed lic affairs officer Pam Bal- A fire that burned more Oconee County: xx cases, xx deaths students and 17 staff ICU beds were occupied timore told The Journal on than 100 acres in the members were quaran- at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Friday the fire had been Sumter National Forest in Pickens County: xx cases, xx deaths tined. with two of those beds “100 percent contained,” Mountain Rest has been As positive tests for the taken by COVID-19 though crews will remain “100 percent contained,” SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL virus have fallen across patients. in the area for a few extra according to a U.S. Forest the district, so have There were five days for monitoring and Service spokeswoman. cases and quarantines patients on ventilators cleanup protocols. at Daniel-area schools. at the time of the re- “They do still have “The fire was success- | CALENDAR | Central Academy of port, with one patient resources in the area, fully held within the the Arts and Edwards COVID-19 positive. including a helicopter, containment lines, and MONDAY Middle had just one staff There were also 13 ven- one jumper module, one the interior is still con- OCONEE COUNTY Republican Party reorganization meeting at 7 member and 18 students tilators available at the dozer, two engines and suming fuel with minimal p.m. at Keowee Key Event Center, 1 Country Club Road, Salem. A quarantined, respective- time. some miscellaneous fire smoke,” Baltimore said. makeup meeting will be at 1 p.m. March 20. Email wjerome48@ ly, with no positive cases Of the 75 hospital personnel,” she said. “Friday morning, they charter.com or (864) 723-9155. at either school. Clemson beds occupied, six were Baltimore said the most patrolled and confirmed Elementary, meanwhile, filled by patients with recent estimates at press the lines were secure.” TUESDAY had one staff member COVID-19. There were time reported the fire She added smoke re- THE POWERFUL Club of Toastmasters International will meet at 6 and one student test posi- 101 beds available at the burned 134 acres. mains visible from S.C. p.m. via Zoom. If you wish to attend, call (864) 944-5735 for a link. tive, with a single staff time of the update. Fire crews worked to Highway 28 and people member and six students Hospital bed informa- complete construction of are urged to use caution MARCH 20 quarantined, while Six tion can be found online containment lines and in the area while emer- FLEET RESERVE Association, Branch 15, will meet at 8:30 a.m. for Mile Elementary had six at scdhec.gov/covid19/ conducted burnout oper- gency vehicles are work- breakfast followed by a business meeting at 9 a.m. at Chicopee students quarantined hospital-bed-capaci- ations throughout Thurs- ing to wrap up operations.