'A Huge Shot in the Arm'
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| PAGE LABEL EVEN | COUNTDOWN T Vol. 117HE No. 98 JOURNALWednesday, May 19, 2021 $100 TO KICKOFF T J Tigers, Bulldogs ‘THAT’S A GIFT’: Celebrity stylist gives free haircuts to isolated clients. B1 set to meet in ‘HEARD OUR PLEAS’: Congress OKs bill to fight hate crimes vs. Asian Americans. D1 primetime. C1 WALHALLA PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL A person of interest in the 2019 disappearance of Faith Roach, 54-year-old Walhalla resident Kevin Maler has a lengthy list of arrests in Oconee County dating back to April 1999. Stretching from the oldest available on the far left to the most recent on the far right, taken after a November arrest on drug and weapons charges, the dozen mugshots above were all taken during bookings at the Oconee County Detention Center over the years. Person of interest in Roach case expected in court next week offense of distribution of on Maler’s charges could filed by the Walhalla Po- methamphetamine and be coming soon. lice Department. Deputy solicitor expects Maler’s possession of a firearm “We anticipate his by a convicted felon. He is charges being resolved by PERSON OF INTEREST currently out on bond on the end of the summer,” Maler was first con- charges to be resolved by end of summer a combined $20,615 surety she said. firmed as a person of bond, according to online According to the Oconee interest in the disap- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR disappearance of Faith Kevin Wayne Maler, 54, court records. General Sessions Court pearance of then-27-year- THE JOURNAL Roach is set to appear of Walhalla, was arrested On Tuesday, 10th Judi- online docket, Maler is old Roach two months in court next week on in November and charged cial Circuit deputy solici- slated to appear before ago by Oconee County WALHALLA — A unrelated charges from with simple possession tor Lindsey Simmons told Judge Scott Sprouse on person of interest in the last year. of marijuana, a third The Journal a resolution May 26 on the charges SEE COURT, PAGE A6 WALHALLA UPSTATE Leaving big shoes to fill ‘A huge shot Principals retiring after more than 70 combined years in education in the arm’ Cooperatives partner to invest $150M for fiber optic network BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR THE JOURNAL SENECA — Two utility cooperatives have formalized a partnership to invest $150 million to bring fiber optic, high- speed broadband internet to Oconee County. On Tuesday, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative (BREC) and West Carolina Rural Tele- phone Cooperative (WCTEL) officials an- nounced the creation of Upcountry Fiber to help “bridge the digital divide where little to no access” for internet exists. The initiative, broken into projects, will SEE NETWORK, PAGE A3 UPSTATE PHOTOS BY JERRY BEARD | THE JOURNAL Longtime Northside Elementary principal Geoff Smith, left, and Westminster Elementary principal Sherrie McAllister are both set to enter retirement this year after long careers in education. County facility Northside principal saying Westminster Elementary mask mandate goodbye after 22 years leader appreciates support set to end today BY GREG OLIVER announced his retirement BY GREG OLIVER can be found walking from THE JOURNAL that becomes effective at THE JOURNAL classroom to classroom, pro- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR the end of this academic viding an encouraging word THE JOURNAL SENECA — Northside year, took over in 1999 WESTMINSTER — After to students and teachers. Elementary School prin- with a student enrollment a career in education span- Even as she prepares to WALHALLA — Today, masks are no lon- cipal Geoff Smith, in his of approximately 325 chil- ning more than 42 years, retire at the end of this ger required in facilities owned and operat- 29th year in education, dren. Westminster Elementary school year, McAllister ed by Oconee County after a date tweak has witnessed a complete But a massive renovation School principal Sherrie said she is leaving with from Oconee County Council, but not before makeover of his school in project that featured a McAllister is still full of fond memories of her one councilman implied a fellow member the 22 years he has guided new cafeteria and physical energy and enthusiasm. time at the school and the followed a shadow conspiracy movement. it. McAllister, who has been Smith, who recently SEE NORTHSIDE, PAGE A5 at the school for five years, SEE WESTMINSTER, PAGE A5 SEE MANDATE, PAGE A3 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 I don’t mind speed COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 checker signs. B5 MELANIE FINK Top Floor Luxury Location Seasonal Lake Views, 2BR, 2BA AND ASSOCIATES Fully Furnished, Extra Storage Loaded with Keowee Key Amenities Priced at $285,000 melaniefink.com | 303 Rochester Hwy, Seneca | 864-888-3211 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021 Oconee food services director recalls challenges during COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday’s COVID-19 BY GREG OLIVER longer just lunch ladies were being shut down all numbers at a glance THE JOURNAL and gentlemen. We were over the country because Confirmed Confirmed Percent a larger picture of the of the pandemic)? We cases deaths positive WALHALLA — Sodexo community. We weren’t didn’t know.” Food Services general just seeing kids in school Another challenge Howe South Carolina 112 2 3.7% manager April Howe cafeterias anymore, we and staff faced was ensur- Oconee County 4 0 3.3%* said she will never forget were seeing them in their ing workers preparing March 16, 2020. homes, where they live, and delivering food were Pickens County 5 0 3.3%* Not only does March 16 how they live. So we have kept safe from COVID-19. * Seven-day moving average mark her birthday, but it a better bond or a better “We touched hundreds also coincided last year attachment to the chil- of individuals every time Cumulative cases with the biggest profes- dren we serve — it’s no we served a meal, going South Carolina: 489,164 cases, 8,502 deaths sional challenge she had longer just a smiley face from this house to this Oconee County: 8,954 cases, 127 deaths ever encountered. in the cafeteria.” house to this house,” “In food service, we Howe said. “So, if one of Pickens County: 17,119 cases, 261 deaths prepare for things like MEAL DELIVERY KEY FILE us were infected or had tornadoes, things like Because students were Six-year-old Kamron Black been infected unknowing- Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU occupancy power outages, but what no longer in school, break- reaches out to grab a ly, we could potentially Total ICU beds: 12 Beds occupied: 8 we’ve never prepared fast and lunch had be chocolate milk from School spread this thing from for before is a worldwide delivered to them. Getting District of Oconee County family to family.” Beds occupied by COVID patients: 1 pandemic,” Howe told the food to students became employee Michelle Helmer SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL Oconee County even more at the Seneca Gardens SERVED MEALS SPIKE School Board at | EDITOR’S NOTE | important, as Apartments in March 2020. Last summer, Howe said a work session buses were the the U.S. Department of last week. “So, This is the first of primary means parents, for the most part. Agriculture granted waiv- we were faced two stories featur- of transporta- So now the students are ers that allowed bulk meal | CALENDAR | pretty quickly ing School District tion to various home, and do they want deliveries so children with making of Oconee County homes for fam- to work for me or be home could receive meals a TODAY decisions that food services offi- ilies unable to with their children? So week at a time. Howe said OCONEE COUNTY Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans could affect not cials discussing the provide trans- staffing was a big issue.” breakfast meals served (DAV) will resume processing VA disability claims on Wednesdays hundreds, but challenges of feeding portation to increased from 8,294 in from 1-5 p.m. at 112 E. North 2nd St., in Seneca. Bring DD214, medi- thousands.” students during a feeding sites. SHORTAGES, OTHER June and July 2019 to cal records and all VA correspondence. Howe, an pandemic. Making CHALLENGES TOUCH 91,555 in the same period admitted per- matters even EMPLOYEES last year, while lunches THURSDAY fectionist, said she knew more difficult were the Howe said staff dealt went from 17,684 to 91,530 OCPL FRIENDS of the Library book sale every Thursday in the Wal- decisions had to be made unknowns Howe and her with a shortage of food — a 517 percent increase halla Library basement from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. No more than nine quickly to feed students no staff had to deal with in and paper products. in lunch meals served and customers at a time. Masks will be required. longer in school after Gov. terms of the pandemic “We couldn’t use trays an 1,100 percent increase Henry McMaster canceled itself and the impact on you could wash — we in breakfast meals served. SATURDAY face-to-face instruction. staff. needed paper, we needed “I thought that was stag- THE AMERICAN Christian Fiction Writers’ South Carolina Chapter But she challenged her “The CDC released that Styrofoam, we needed gering,” Howe said. “We will meet at 2 p.m. at North Anderson Baptist Church, 2308 N. Main employees to work with anyone over 65 was at an plastic, so immediately we were able to do that in two St., Anderson.