| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ‘IT’S A T Vol. 117HE No. 67 JOURNALTuesday, April 6, 2021 $100 SETBACK’ T J Tigers lose backup OVERWHELMED BY OILS?: Navigating the varied world of olive oils. B1 QB after injury in $2.3 TRILLION PLAN: Biden summons support as GOP bucks infrastructure. D1 spring game. C1 OCONEE COUNTY Engineer: OJRSA improvements could hit $16M tions between DHEC and “Then you can increase site layout alternatives the OJRSA have contin- capacity within five and capital costs. Sewer authority looking at funding options ued, and the board dis- years,” he told the board, Scott’s assessments cussed the status during adding his firm could look didn’t include OJRSA BY NORM CANNADA at the Coneross Wastewa- talked for months about an executive session, but at funding alternatives facilities outside the THE JOURNAL ter Treatment Facility. ways to address infrastruc- no discussion or vote came including grants and loan treatment plant. The Derek Scott, a water/ ture needs to improve the up in the public session. programs. system has 13 pump or SENECA — An engineer wastewater engineer system, much of which is Scott’s assessment of the Once the “near term” lift stations, including the told Oconee Joint Region- with Black and Veatch, about 40 years old. The treatment plant’s needs needs are addressed, Scott Flat Rock Pump Station al Sewer Authority offi- presented his assessment South Carolina Depart- suggested it would cost said the board should that officials agree needs cials an investment of $16 of the plant’s needs to the ment of Health and Envi- $16 million in the “near move to a 20-year, long- to be replaced now. million over the next few OJRSA board on Monday ronmental Control issued term,” which he said term master plan to focus “It surprised me to an years is needed to address afternoon. an alleged violation to the would get the plant “like on performance, capacity, necessary improvements The sewer authority has entity last year. Negotia- was originally designed.” future flows and loads, SEE IMPROVEMENTS, PAGE A3 WALHALLA CLEMSON City’s housing ban proposal Growing together may be tweaked BY GREG OLIVER cil, said during a Zoom THE JOURNAL conference on Wednes- day. “First, CLEMSON — Clem- what a sonNEXT steering couple of us committee chairman have talked Bob Brookover believes about doing a proposed ordinance is having that would essentially the plan- ban all multi-family ning com- housing options in Brookover mission the city will likely be and (city) tweaked. council get together “I think our plan and do some revisions is going to be this,” on the ordinance as Brookover, who is also Walhalla Community Garden holds groundbreaking on Clemson City Coun- SEE PROPOSAL, PAGE A5 BY LAUREN PIERCE THE JOURNAL TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE WALHALLA — About 30 people showed up Saturday for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Walhalla Community Garden. TCTC freezes Sarah Carpenter, a local teacher, organized the project on a small tract of land across from the Walhalla City Pool on S.C. Highway 28. tuition for 2nd Carpenter began the garden effort about four months ago to give more people access to healthy food and help residents learn how to grow food them- PHOTOS BY LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL straight year selves. Above: State Sen. Thomas Alexander and garden organizer Sarah “We have both a high per- Carpenter stand on the grounds of the new Walhalla Community THE JOURNAL STAFF commission board had Garden. Top: About 30 people joined in the groundbreaking cere- frozen the rates in re- SEE GARDEN, PAGE A5 mony for the garden Saturday morning. SENECA — For a sponse to the COVID-19 second year in a row, pandemic. Tri-County Technical “Tri-County is com- College has frozen its mitted to providing in-county tuition rates. affordable, accessible, On Monday, the college announced its SEE TCTC, PAGE A3 Sarah Carpenter stands near the 12 raised beds for residents to garden at the FILE new Walhalla Community Tri-County Technical College students walk on the Garden she spearheaded. school’s Pendleton campus in 2019. Tri-County an- SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL nounced Monday that it has frozen tuition rates for local students for the second year in a row. | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 We have to look at CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 the big picture. B5 DREAM. BELIEVE. SUCCEED. Appetite Suppressants | Lipo-B12 | HCG Injections Ready to start your weight loss journey? Visit our website to learn more 864.225.6280 • AndersonBariatrics.com about our services and how we can help you get started. 2106 North Main Street, Anderson, SC www.AndersonBariatrics.com | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 DHEC plans Monday’s COVID-19 FILE free numbers at a glance These renderings show the current design of Clemson’s Perimeter Road, above, com- pared to the proposed changes, below, which would widen a 1.2-mile section, convert- Confirmed Confirmed Percent ing the current two-lane section into four lanes. cases deaths positive Oconee South Carolina 641 7 4.4% Oconee County 13 0 1.5%* Pickens County 26 1 2.2%* vaccine * Seven-day moving average Cumulative cases South Carolina: 467,750 cases, 8,111 deaths clinic Oconee County: 8,357 cases, 125 deaths Pickens County: 16,249 cases, 247 deaths THE JOURNAL STAFF Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU occupancy SENECA — A free COVID-19 vaccine clinic Beds available: 12 Beds taken: 4 will be open in Oconee Beds occupied by COVID patients: 2 County next Tuesday. The S.C. Department SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL of Health and Environ- mental Control (DHEC) CU committee set to meet will be operating the clinic at the Blue Ridge | CALENDAR | Community Center at 315 Holland Ave. in TODAY Seneca on April 13. POWERFUL CLUB of Toastmasters International will meet via Zoom to approve safety project Appointments must be at 6 p.m. Individuals interested in improving their communication made to receive a shot, and leadership skills welcome. No charge to attend. If you wish to BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR a meeting agenda said. Boulevard. Studies have as no walk-ins will be ac- attend, call (864) 944-5735 for a link. THE JOURNAL No backup material was shown a traffic increase cepted. A second vaccine made available ahead of of 33 percent on Perimeter shot will be given on THURSDAY CLEMSON — Clemson the meeting. The focus Road and a corresponding May 11. An appointment OCPL FRIENDS of the Library book sale every Thursday in the University’s Finance and of the meeting item will decrease on Walter T. Cox can be made by calling Walhalla Library basement from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. No more than Facilities Committee is center on Perimeter Road, Boulevard, according to DHEC at (864) 482-1867. nine customers at a time. Masks will be required. set to meet this afternoon, a school official confirmed meeting materials. Two All South Carolin- eyeing the approval of a to The Journal. years ago, the project was ians 16 and older are WIDOWED PERSON Moving Forward, Oconee County will meet major roadway project. In the fall of 2019, trust- estimated to cost $21 mil- eligible for the vaccine. for lunch at 12:30 p.m. at Dienners on Hwy. 123, Seneca. For more The board of trustees’ ees approved $315,000 for a lion and be paid for with According to DHEC, information, call Rita at (864) 985-0542. subcommittee will meet conceptual design about a state institution bonds. 22,390 Oconee County virtually beginning at 1 project involving the wid- The next action item residents had received SATURDAY p.m. with a debt and capi- ening of a 1.2-mile section on the agenda calls for at least one dose of OCONEE COUNTY Republican Party county convention will be held tal program update from of Perimeter Road, convert- approval of requesting the COVID-19 vaccine as of at 10 a.m. at Gignilliat Community Center, 621 N. Townville St., Sen- executive vice president ing the current two-lane issuance of state institu- Monday. eca. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the convention call to order at of finance and operations section into four lanes. The tion bonds to finance the More information on 10 a.m. For more information, email [email protected]. Tony Wagner and chief fi- project would make the en- project. The full board of the vaccine rollout in the nancial officer Rick Petillo. tire road four lanes when trustees will begin quar- state can be found online TO SUBMIT your event, email [email protected]. The committee has completed in August 2022, terly meetings on April 22. at scdhec.gov/vaxfacts. also been called to act on officials said at the time. Paid Advertising approving the final phase Since 2018, the univer- of a project centered on sity has actively tried to “Roadway Pedestrian divert traffic to Perimeter Tips and Advice Safety Improvements,” Road from Walter T. Cox for Borrowers New Plants | CORRECTION | During the processing of your loan, & Vegetables, there are certain things to keep in mind In Saturday’s issue of man is pastor. Hartman is Fertilizers, that may affect the outcome of your loan The Journal, an article in- pastor of Seneca Presbyte- request. Credit, income, and assets are correctly listed the church rian Church. The Journal Chemicals re-verified after you have signed your where the Rev.