Westminster Councilmen Surprised by Halt on Magistrate's Building County Open to Talks with Seneca About Substation Rat Makes
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| PAGE LABEL EVEN | UP FOR GRABS? T Vol. 117HE No. 48 JOURNALWednesday, March 10, 2021 $100 Tigers face Miami, T J optimistic about LOVE, FAITH AND SERVICE: Community Tree Center meeting families’ needs. B1 chances in ACC IN COURT: Pandemic shapes trial of Minneapolis ex-cop in Floyd’s death. D1 Tournament. C1 WESTMINSTER SENECA Westminster councilmen surprised by halt on magistrate’s building to sell the property locat- Councilmen told The ed on the corner of Bibb Journal this week they’re City officials hoping to and East Main streets hopeful the project will after Westminster Mayor be revived and anticipat- Brian Ramey spoke with ed the issue would come RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL get project back on track county officials express- up at next Tuesday’s city Since 2015, Oconee County has spent more than $44,000 ing his belief the proper- council meeting. on engineering and architectural consulting at the future BY BRIAN GRAVES the sudden halt of plans ty would quickly sell to “This is a project I am site of the Bountyland fire substation, along with other THE JOURNAL to construct an estimat- commercial interests and definitely in favor of,” work at the location on South Cove Road in Seneca. ed $844,000 building to provide more tax revenue Councilman Yousef Me- WESTMINSTER — house a new magistrate’s to the city. Ramey also fleh said. “I would crawl Four Westminster City office and courtroom. said he would like any on my knees to get it. It Council members said Last week, Oconee new building to be locat- they were surprised by County Council decided ed closer to City Hall. SEE BUILDING, PAGE A3 County open to WESTMINSTER talks with Seneca about substation BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR acre property on South THE JOURNAL Cove Road in Seneca. Brock signaled she was SENECA — Informal open to discussions and discussions between said any conversations Oconee County and about management and Seneca city officials staffing of the substation have taken place over would be fluid with a the potential ownership construction timeline. and management of the “The Seneca contract- future Bountyland fire ed area is a mere dozen substation. yards or more from the Earlier this week, proposed location for Trial by fire county administrator the substation, so any Amanda Brock told The discussion regarding Journal only informal Seneca either manning conversations had Westminster utility director occurred about the 1.39- SEE SUBSTATION, PAGE A3 unfazed by city’s problems SENECA BY BRIAN GRAVES ty through past vacations THE JOURNAL fishing at Lake Hartwell. “We liked it a lot WESTMINSTER — Leigh here,” Baker said. Rat makes city’s Baker began his job as West- “My wife saw this Westminster util- minster’s utility director job was open and ity director Leigh with the genes of a father who said, ‘It’s right Baker trims a tree worked in the same industry, where you want to trash pickup late along Lucky Street. the experience of more than live.’ So, I put in Tree trimming is three decades and after under- for it, and the rest something Baker going — quite literally — a Baker is kind of history.” BY NORM CANNADA to a 2017 Mack truck is emphasizing to trial by fire in a past job. Baker’s son has THE JOURNAL at Tuesday’s council reduce outages. Baker and his family in Au- returned to California to work meeting. BRIAN GRAVES | THE JOURNAL gust 2020 made the cross-coun- for PG&E. SENECA — Trash Moulder said the ani- try trek to Oconee County from pickup on city’s resi- mal “chewed through” California, where he spent BAKER’S CALIFORNIA TRIAL dential routes is behind the wiring harness of much of his career working for Baker was the operations schedule this week after the truck. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). a rat caused damage in- “When they got the He discovered Oconee Coun- SEE UNFAZED, PAGE A6 side the motor of a trash wiring harness fixed and truck. were able to crank it up City administrator to begin checking it out, Scott Moulder talked about Monday’s damage SEE RAT, PAGE A2 SENECA Seneca High School principal Seneca High principal to retire from SDOC Felicia LeRoy talks BY GREG OLIVER cation veteran, who has sibly be,” LeRoy told The Seneca Middle School and to students THE JOURNAL spent nearly 18 years in Journal. Seneca High School. The during Oconee County, including LeRoy has strong blood- veteran educator said she graduation SENECA — After spend- 12 at Seneca High, isn't lines when it comes to has been “exponentially practice at ing the past three years in retiring from education. education, as her father, blessed in my education- the school charge of the school her Instead, LeRoy has been Harry Hamilton, served al career,” adding that in June father once led for some hired by Anderson School as principal at Northside “the joys have been truly 2018. three decades, Seneca District 1 in the critical Elementary and later endless.” FILE High School principal area of secondary En- Seneca High School, and “I look very fondly over Felicia LeRoy has an- glish. her late mother, Angela, my career at the numer- nounced her retirement “I hope to put my money served as a social studies ous collegial and profes- from the School District of where my mouth has been and English teacher at sional relationships I have Oconee County. administratively and be Westminster High School, But the 33-year edu- the best teacher I can pos- Seneca Junior High, SEE PRINCIPAL, PAGE A3 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 SPORTS C1 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 STOCK REPORTS D4 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 Landing on Mars CLASSIFIEDS D3 LIFESTYLE B1 TELL WILLIE B5 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OPINION A4 WORLD | NATION D1 is hard. B5 MELANIE FINK Elevated Lake Keowee Setting Screened Porch w Lake Views AND ASSOCIATES Open Floor-plan, Low Maintenance Loaded with Community Amenities Priced at $215,000 melaniefink.com | 303 Rochester Hwy, Seneca | 864-888-3211 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 One bed open at Oconee ICU late Monday night Marlow seeking Walhalla seat SENECA — There THE JOURNAL STAFF the planned downtown greenway, which was one bed available is beginning its first phase this year, will in the intensive care WALHALLA — Christy Marlow is the provide new recreational opportunities for unit at Prisma Health second candidate on the ballot for the residents and tourists visiting the town. Oconee Memorial April 13 special election for the vacant She also supports expanding recre- Hospital late Monday seat on Walhalla City Council. ation options in the city and Tuesday’s COVID-19 night, according to The seat opened after the January death looking for partnerships numbers updated by of former Councilman Dennis Owens. like the one between the city numbers at a glance the S.C. Department A graduate of Walhalla High School, and the Foothills YMCA to Confirmed Confirmed Percent of Health and Envi- Marlow and her husband, Michael, have operate the city pool. cases deaths positive ronmental Control been married for 27 years and have two “I support the trail devel- (DHEC). adult children. She works for Schneider opment because I believe South Carolina 425 3 4.7% DHEC reported 11 of Electric. that recreation opportunities Oconee County 8 0 1.4%* the hospital’s 12 listed After being involved with school activi- Marlow improve quality of life in our Pickens County 6 0 2.5%* ICU beds were occupied ties and recreation programs when her community,” Marlow said. at 11:59 p.m. Monday, children were younger, Marlow said she “The downtown greenway trail will pro- * Seven-day moving average with two of those wants to work on council to help improve vide safe exercise options for residents Cumulative cases beds being used by growth and development of the city. of all ages. The partnership between the COVID-19 patients. She said she supports efforts in recent recreation department and the YMCA is South Carolina: 451,026 cases, 7,751 deaths There were seven years with the downtown streetscape, an excellent example of the kind of oppor- Oconee County: 8,063 cases, 120 deaths patients on ventila- city pool, Stumphouse Trail development tunity I want to see more of in Walhalla.” tors at the time of the and the new city water plant. She added she supports the Main Pickens County: 15,618 cases, 240 deaths report, with two of “Walhalla is a beautiful small town Street Walhalla program to help the the patients COVID-19 with much to offer our residents and vis- downtown area and bring more busi- SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL positive. There were 11 itors,” she said in a news release. “Wal- nesses into the city and would work on ventilators available at halla must continue to grow and develop, council for improved communication the time. but it must do so at its own pace. We have with residents and businesses. Of the 80 hospital three museums, a beautiful auditorium, “Good communication is key to build- | CALENDAR | beds occupied, six were more businesses and restaurants open- ing positive relationships, and I would filled by patients with ing in town. ... We can take advantage work to improve the city’s outreach,” THURSDAY COVID-19. There were of our natural resources and increase Marlow said. “Keeping residents and WIDOWED PERSONS Moving Forward, Oconee County will meet 96 beds available at the recreation and tourism to our communi- businesses informed and aware of oppor- for lunch at 1 p.m.