| PAGE LABEL EVEN | TERRAPIN TAKEDOWN T Vol. 116HE No. 343 JOURNALThursday, December 10, 2020 $100 Tigers handle Maryland in HOLIDAY CHEER: ‘Sounds of the Season’ performance a ‘bright spot.’ B1 ACC-Big Ten ‘UGLINESS AND CRUELTY’: Tensions rise over masks as virus grips cities. D1 Challenge. C1 SENECA WESTMINSTER Westminster nixes Christmas parade board shows Oconee Coun- ty confirmed 721 cases of Mayor calls decision ‘very disappointing’ the virus for the two-week period ending Monday. BY BRIAN GRAVES scheduled to be held. on the cancellation cited “We take a lot of pride THE JOURNAL City administrator Kev- COVID-19 figures from the in the work that goes into in Bronson issued a news S.C. Department of Health planning our city’s annu- WESTMINSTER — release announcing the and Environmental al Christmas parade and Westminster officials an- parade was canceled this Control showing Oconee surrounding activities,” nounced the cancellation year “out of an abundance County has averaged 72 the city’s release said. of the annual Christmas of caution for citizens, new confirmed cases per “However, the protection parade and other events visitors and our city busi- day during the past two of our close-knit commu- on Wednesday, just two nesses.” weeks. days before they were The city’s statement The state COVID-19 dash- SEE PARADE, PAGE A5 SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL Firefighters battle a blaze at a vacant house in the Utica community on Tuesday night. Officials said SENECA they believe the fire started in the fireplace, which a group of homeless people were using to keep warm. No one was in the house when responders arrived. Chief: Fire likely due to ‘squatters’ Returning a trying to get warm BY NORM CANNADA people who had been THE JOURNAL staying there. No one was injured in SENECA — A fire the fire, which was re- that damaged a “squat- ported around 8:30 p.m. ter’s house” in the at the corner of God- Utica community Tues- dard and East Gammell day night is believed streets. Seneca Rescue to have been started in the fireplace by five SEE SQUATTERS, PAGE A5 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Last-minute gift ‘standard of guide inside today excellence’ The Journal | 1 THE JOURNAL STAFF RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL Last Minute Gift Guide December 10, 2020 SPECIAL SECTION | THURSDAY, DECEMBERGUIDE 10, 2020 The current Seneca Creek access boat ramp on Lake Hartwell is worn down and dated ahead of planned renovations. last GIFT minute SENECA — Christmas Time to wrap up your shopping! Eve will be here in exactly two weeks. Are you ready? Stores seeing strong Official says $2M Seneca Creek project could start by summer Christmas sales Whether you’re looking Dazzling and for a few more gifts or distinctive Jewelry sales, repair, resetting stocking stuffers for peo- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR seeking final approval from the U.S. Currently, the site sits in “poor available for holidays BY NORM CANNADA THE JOURNAL Green Springs Jewelry is often the perfect gift for that special per- son in your life. ple on your list or you’re a THE JOURNAL Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) condition, at best,” county PRT TURNER'S JEWELERS Turner’s Jewelers, located in Seneca’s Applewood “We’re selling Shopping Center, is an authorized Pandora dealer offer- a lot of that and I ing a variety of possibilities for the special person on BY NORM CANNADA your shopping list. THE JOURNAL think it’s people trying to show their The Seneca business has a wide range of jewelry - ocal mer including diamonds, watches, and rings. They also can emotions,” McClain chants say do custom designs to provide something specifically said. “What has they expect personal and can also repair jewelry repair to fix a pre- happened this year last-minute shopper, The to begin a two-phase project total- director Phil Shirley said. early reports cious heirloom than needs a little tender loving care or has just been horrible, of a strong - resize a ring or other item as a special Christmas gift. and everybody is feeling Christmas The store also does appraisals. - horrible about it. By shar McClain’s shopping sea - ing these things, it’s kind of son to contin like a concrete emotion that Custom Silk Floral BRADLEY’S JEWELERS Designs and Gifts Brad Anderson said much of his business at Bradley’s can’t be moved. ue and give businesses a healthy “These little statues like Jewelers off U.S. Highway 123 centers on custom work Lfinish to 2020. the ‘Tree of ‘Prayer and including repairs, remounts and settings for jewelry. “I think it’s better than last He has training as an advanced goldsmith and stone ‘Embraceable You’ and Journal has you covered. SENECA — A project more than a ing more than $2 million at the He estimated eight vehicles could year,” said Lynn McClain, owner setter and 31 years of experience in that specialty. ‘Quiet Wonder’ and ‘Angel I’ve talked to is doing very well.” of McClain’s Custom Silk Floral “Our biggest niche is remounts, sets, things like of Prayer’ and ‘Wishing’ Alison Springs of Green Designs and Gifts in Walhalla. that,” said Bradley. “We do a ton of remounts, repairs. - and ‘Courage’ and ‘Happiness’ Springs on Ram Cat Alley in “Because it’s been such a hard We do engagement rings where they pick the diamond — people are buying these Seneca said she has offered “pri- year people are looking for any out and we set the stones in the mounting they choose. faster than we can keep them in vate” shopping appointments for thing that’s positive. I think it’s We stay so busy with repair work.” stock,” she added. “I think it’s people either concerned about (rest of Christmas season) going - But he also carries a wide selection of sterling silver, they’re way of saying, ‘Hey, this being around crowds during the to be booming. I really do. I’m and yellow and white gold to sell. has been a bad year but guess coronavirus outbreak or peo looking forward to it.” He noted that the price of gold has gone up from about what, our emotions are still ple who can’t come to the store Today’s issue includes decade in the making could start to Seneca Creek access point. probably fit in the current area, if She added the store has seen $300 an ounce when he started out in the business 31 alive and inside of us.” during normal business hours. high demand for figures in the Casual Carolina owner and years ago to around $1,900 an ounce today. - She said she got the idea from a Willow Tree Collection that have - “A lot of people instead of buying new jewelry, they’re Downtown Seneca Merchant’s friend who lives in another area a variety of positive messages fixing their old jewelry and resetting them,” Anderson Association President Ray Mur and has seen people take advan such as prayer and love, and said. phy agreed that shoppers are out tage of it. attributes that success to the He also does ring sizing and adjustable ring shanks to in the stores in high numbers “We just want to be there for need for positive messages in “I can tell you right overnow- we’re help people in the area with arthritis be able to contin- our customers,” she said. “If light of 2020 and the COVID-19 whelmed,’” they don’t feel comfortable with ue to wear their rings. - pandemic. he said. crowds, cool, I’m here for them. our annual “Last Min- take shape alongside Lake Hartwell The first phase of the project they squeezed in. “We’re We’ve had a few people just con absolutely cerned about the virus and one - over person who just works a whole whelmed lot and can’t get in and that’s with people - cool, too.” buying cus Springs said business so far tom stuff. - this holiday season is “going I’m watch really well.” ing the two “We are very grateful for ute Shopping Guide,” by the end of next summer. would include a courtesy dock, con- “Some of the challenges with new stores everyone who comes out and that are shops with us or any downtown open and business or any small busi- - they’re just ness wherever they may live,” blown away Springs said. “We’re apprecia - by what’s tive of the people coming out. We going on expect sales to stay up through down here. out the season.” Everybody The Oconee County Parks, Recre- crete boat ramps, erosion control, a Casual Carolina SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL Repairs are a major part Brad Anderson’s work at Bradley’s Jewelers located at 200 Old Salem Road in Seneca. SEE GUIDE, PAGE A6 ation and Tourism Department is paved parking lot and lighting. SEE PROJECT, PAGE A5 OCONEE COUNTY Clemson president talks leadership with Oconee deputies BY NORM CANNADA sition,” Clements told the need to know where they Clements listed five THE JOURNAL deputies during the one- are and where they are ‘A title doesn’t mean anything. characteristics of good or- hour session in Oconee going, Clements said. ganizational leadership — WALHALLA — Clem- County Council chambers “Leadership is about It just goes on a business card. getting the team to “buy son University president on Tuesday. “You can be moving an organization into the culture,” a mix Jim Clements encouraged a leader without a title, from Point A to Point B — of talent, having a plan to Oconee County Sheriff’s regardless of where you going from your current You become a leader by action.’ see “Point B,” ability to Office deputies to grow are in your organization state to your desired fu- execute and courage.