| PAGE LABEL EVEN | T Vol. 117HE No. 5 JOURNALThursday, January 7, 2021 $100 OVER AND OUT T J Tiger quarterback PRIORITIZE, SIMPLIFY, SAVE: Pandemic forces shift in finances for many. B1 Lawrence to enter VIOLENCE ERUPTS: Mob storms US Capitol in bid to overturn election. D1 NFL draft. C1 POLITICS ‘Totally disgusted’: Officials react to chaos on Capitol Hill BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR moment in the ongoing election “First of all, I fully support the THE JOURNAL saga. The Associated Press re- people’s right to peacefully pro- ported protesters test and express SENECA — Local legisla- had broken into their concerns tors and party officials said both Senate and about voter fraud OUR VIEW Wednesday they were appalled U.S. House legis- TO READ A RELATED in the 2020 elec- by the violence on Capitol Hill lative chambers, tion. Our Consti- EDITORIAL, TURN in Washington, where protests breaking glass tution is founded TO PAGE A3. turned violent in an unprec- and waving both on free speech edented storming of federal American and and the people’s ASSOCIATED PRESS grounds. Trump flags, with right to elect their Supporters of President Donald Trump try to break through a po- Thousands of supporters one person being fatally shot. representatives,” Jerome said. lice barrier Wednesday at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress of President Donald Trump Oconee County Republican “That said, I think the protesters prepared to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, thousands of marched in the nation’s capi- Party chairman Bill Jerome are going too far and are hurting people gathered to show their support for Trump and his claims of tal and stormed the grounds said he “never thought the their own cause when peaceful election fraud, a protest that turned violent when people stormed the after a rally earlier in the day, country would get to the point Capitol building. notching another unforgettable it’s at now.” SEE CHAOS, PAGE A2 OCONEE COUNTY WALHALLA Parts of county could see some Potbelly pleading snowfall tonight Meteorologist: Another chance for winter weather next week BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Meteorologist Doug Out- THE JOURNAL law told The Journal that tonight’s forecast showed SENECA — A National accumulation of a half Weather Service official inch to an inch of snow in said Wednesday that Mountain Rest. Oconee County could He said the Seneca area see snow this week, with is expected to get a mix of some accumulation in snow and rain beginning Mountain Rest beginning around 3 a.m. Friday. tonight and a possible There were no announced wintry mix in Seneca early Friday morning. SEE SNOW, PAGE A4 CLEMSON PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL Oliver, left, has lived with Rachel Pace for several years after escaping an abusive home, while Henry has been with her since he was born. Pace appeared before Walhalla City Council on Monday night after a neighbor com- Smith excited to plained about the Vietnamese potbelly pigs. make history as Walhalla woman asks council for permission to keep pet pigs BY LAUREN PIERCE THE JOURNAL mayor pro tem WALHALLA — A Walhalla woman appealed to city council members at their meeting Tues- BY GREG OLIVER tem. Smith became the day night to be allowed to keep THE JOURNAL first African-American to her two Vietnamese potbelly pigs serve in that as pets. CLEMSON — Clemson capacity and is Rachel Pace, of Morningside City Councilwoman Ale- believed to be Drive, and the city received a sia Smith, who has sought only the sec- complaint from a neighbor on to nurture diversity in ond woman, Moore Avenue prompting Pace to the city since taking office along with the go before the council to plead her two years ago, has become late Catherine case. a part of history marking Smith — the Pace said her two potbelly pigs, another step in racial Smith only woman Henry and Oliver, “are quiet, and Rachel Pace and her pet potbelly pig Henry swap a smooch for a treat. progress in the city. to serve as all they do is eat, poop and sleep.” During Monday night’s the city’s mayor and the Henry likes belly rubs and according to Pace. The pigs both first came to the United States in regularly scheduled meet- first woman elected to any rubbing his muddy nose on Pace’s love acorns. 1985, she added. ing — the first of the new office in Pickens County. pants, while Oliver is “a grumpy Pace said the ordinance she is Henry has been with Pace since year — Smith was unani- old man who enjoys a morning fighting was written in 1976 — mously elected mayor pro SEE SMITH, PAGE A4 apple and sitting on the porch,” almost 10 years before potbellies SEE PIGS, PAGE A4 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A4 COMICS B2 OPINION A3 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B3 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 B4 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 Love one another. COLUMNISTS B2 OBITUARIES B4 WORLD | NATION D1 Useful, helpful and thoughtful innovations with enjoyable luxuries. The 2021 C 300 Sedan CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 School district provides COVID-19 case update Police search for missing teen WALHALLA — The School District of Oconee BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR carrying a blue bookbag. still in the area or if she County on Wednesday re- THE JOURNAL Elliott is 5 is with anyone. Brinson ported more new COVID-19 feet tall and said police don’t believe Wednesday’s COVID-19 cases since schools re- WALHALLA — Walhal- white and has she is in danger. Elliott numbers at a glance opened earlier this week. la police are asking for blue eyes and has been entered into the A student each at help in finding a 16-year- brown hair. National Crime Informa- Confirmed Confirmed Percent Blue Ridge Elementary, old who was last seen Walhalla tion Center as a missing cases deaths positive Northside Elementary, nearly three weeks ago. officials said person, Brinson said. Keowee Elementary and Police are searching for Elliott has a Members of the public South Carolina 4,037 71 30.9% Walhalla High tested pos- Brenna Elliott, who was Elliott nose piercing, are asked to contact the Oconee County 50 4 27.7%* itive on Monday, as did an last seen Dec. 18 leaving and both of Walhalla Police Depart- Pickens County 99 9 35.1%* employee at both Seneca South Chestnut Street her ears are pierced. ment at (864) 638-5831 or * Seven-day moving average Middle and Walhalla Mid- on foot wearing a brown Walhalla Police Chief through the Walhalla dle. Tuesday saw students hoodie, ripped blue jeans Sean Brinson said author- Police Department App to Cumulative cases at Walhalla Middle, the and black sneakers and ities don’t know if she is submit a tip about Elliott. Hamilton Career Center, South Carolina: 306,204 cases, 5,139 deaths Walhalla High and Seneca Oconee County: 5,458 cases, 64 deaths High and employees at the district office, Fair-Oak Pickens County: 10,854 cases, 151 deaths Elementary and Walhalla High test positive. Unemployment program continued SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL The new cases are in addition to the 573 — 368 BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR paying these important funds without students and 205 employ- THE JOURNAL interruption to continuing claimants ees — reported by the with eligible weeks,” DEW executive | CALENDAR | school district between SENECA — Thanks to a stimulus pack- director Dan Ellzey said. “Our agency the beginning of school age agreement from Congress, updated has only received the very first of the TODAY Aug. 24 and Jan. 3. In ad- unemployment benefits have already guidance from the U.S. Department of OCL FRIENDS of the Library book sale will be by appointment oly at dition, a first-grade class been distributed in South Carolina. Labor, and there is still a great deal of 501 W. South Broad St., Walhalla. By emailing ocplfriendssc@gmail. at Northside Elementary On Monday, the S.C. Department of work to be done to study and implement com. Masks and social distancing required. and a second-grade class Employment and Workforce (DEW) paid these complex programs, but we are at Blue Ridge Elementary more than $10 million in a first round of happy to begin the process and support have been moved moved payments to those eligible for the Feder- South Carolinians during this difficult to distance learning. al Pandemic Unemployment Compensa- time.” When the school dis- tion through the Continued Assistance Ellzey said DEW was able to access the trict is made aware of a for Unemployed Workers Act. money so quickly because the Depart- positive case in an early With the week ending Jan. 2, claim- ment of Labor made money available to childhood classroom, the ants eligible to receive at least $1 from states over the weekend and due to ad- class is moved to distance an unemployment program will receive ditional guidance from the department learning for a period of 10 an additional $300 on top of their week- on how to enact the program. Officials days from when the posi- ly benefit amount. The average weekly expect the program to operate in a way tive child or staff member benefit from the state is approximately it did last year when distributing $600 was last in the classroom. $260, although it maxes out at $326. a week through the Federal Pandemic RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL The South Carolina Additional unemployment money from Unemployment Compensation program.