| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ‘AMAZING’ T Vol. 117HE No. 47 JOURNALTuesday, March 9, 2021 $100 Warriors’ Dobbs, T J Dickerson make ‘MAKING IT PERSONAL’: Walhalla business owner all about helping people. B1 history with third NEW GUIDELINES: Vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says. D1 State crowns. C1 OCONEE COUNTY Sewer concerns could slow growth in eastern Oconee not addressed, according to for the next 15 to 20 years. their focus is on getting sew- Oconee Joint Regional Sew- He said the study is expected er down to the southern part “Is the word ‘moratorium’ a Director asks er Authority officials. to cost $80,000 to $100,000. of the county, which is com- Members of the OJRSA Eleazer said he was told pletely speculative,” Eleazer cuss word? I don’t know. But in board talked last week about the county is focusing on the said. “We’ve got a known for study help sewer needs in eastern Sewer South Phase 2 project area that is booming right essence, we have just that in a Oconee between Seneca and designed to bring service now (eastern Oconee) versus BY NORM CANNADA Clemson. to the southern end of the an area (Sewer South) that substantially large area of the THE JOURNAL OJRSA executive director county at Interstate 85. The may boom in two years Chris Eleazer told the board two entities are working on when we’re able to unplug county where the majority of the SENECA — Growth in one he mailed letters to Oconee the $5 million project, which the pipes when they go in the of the fastest-growing areas County officials in recent is mostly funded by grants. ground and come online.” growth is looking to happen.” of Oconee County could be weeks asking county council It is expected to be complet- Eleazer added the Seneca limited in the near future to consider funding a study ed in the fall of 2022. Chris Eleazer if sewer capacity issues are of sewer needs in the area “Their response is that SEE CONCERNS, PAGE A6 Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority executive director SENECA OCONEE SCHOOLS Shots available ‘A long time for all SDOC coming’ staff by Friday BY GREG OLIVER skeptical and maybe THE JOURNAL even a little disappoint- ed about WALHALLA — vaccines,” School District of Thorsland Oconee County su- said during perintendent Michael the school Thorsland was the board’s bearer of good news month- Monday night, telling ly work school board trustees Thorsland session. that all district em- “(Pris- ployees will have an ma Health officials) opportunity to start the were really making a COVID-19 vaccination concerted effort to not process by the end of promote any one group this week via a part- of individuals over an- nership with Prisma other and were trying Health. to keep the playing field “Last time we spoke, I would say I was very SEE SHOTS, PAGE A3 Bishop Rico M. Aiken Sr., pastor of Destiny Christian Center, stands in- side the shell of the church during CLEMSON a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the rebuilding process on Saturday afternoon. Church mem- bers have not met in their building on Wells Highway since an EF3 Clemson officials tornado damaged it in April 2020. PHOTOS BY NORM CANNADA | THE JOURNAL vow to consider all applicants for Seneca church begins rebuilding from tornado damage administrator job From left, BY NORM CANNADA to be here today,” said pastor Bishop THE JOURNAL Bishop Rico M. Aiken BY GREG OLIVER on a committee that be- Rico M. Aiken Sr., pastor of the THE JOURNAL gan the search process Sr., George SENECA — Nearly a church. “It’s been a this month. Halfacre Jenkins and year after an EF3 tor- long time coming, and CLEMSON — Clem- said the entire council Marissa Cobb nado ripped through sometimes I wondered son City Council will ultimately be in- stand with Seneca in the middle if today was going to members say they volved in the decision. shovels during of the night and “dev- come. What happened like the job acting city No outside firm will be a ground- astated” their church, here didn’t just affect administrator Andy hired, and the goal is to breaking Destiny Christian us. What happened Blondeau has been announce a permanent ceremony at Center members and here, it affected the doing over the past 14 hire in May, Halfacre Destiny Chris- friends gathered on whole city.” months, but are vowing said. tian Center on Saturday afternoon for The last 11 months to complete a thorough He added Blondeau Wells Highway a groundbreaking cer- have presented chal- search process before “is certainly a strong on Saturday, as emony to kick off the lenges for the pastor making a final decision candidate.” Seneca Mayor rebuilding process. and congregation, on a permanent hire. “Andy is to be com- Dan Alexander “It is just exciting — Mayor Robert Hal- mended on the excellent looks on. even more humbling SEE CHURCH, PAGE A6 facre, Councilwoman job he is doing, espe- Catherine Watt and cially given the chal- Councilman John Ducworth are serving SEE CLEMSON, PAGE A3 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 I’ll CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D3 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 say mucho thanks on COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 behalf of the staff. B5 TODAY IS ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE YOURSELF PROUD. Appetite Suppressants | Lipo-B12 | HCG Injections Visit our website to learn more about our weight loss services: www.AndersonBariatrics.com 864.225.6280 • AndersonBariatrics.com • 2106 N. Main Street, Anderson, SC | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 No serious injuries reported in four-car wreck in Monday’s COVID-19 Seneca Saturday numbers at a glance Confirmed Confirmed Percent cases deaths positive Emergency responders were dispatched to a four-car accident South Carolina 562 4 3.7% at the intersection of U.S. Highway Oconee County 9 0 1.4%* 123 near Ingles on Saturday. Offi- Pickens County 18 0 2.6%* cials said the accident turned one vehicle over on top of two others * Seven-day moving average and entrapped someone. Officials Cumulative cases said the driver of the overturned ve- hicle was the only person hurt, but South Carolina: 450,578 cases, 7,748 deaths suffered no life-threatening injuries. Oconee County: 8,055 cases, 120 deaths SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL Pickens County: 15,611 cases, 240 deaths SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL West Union council set to meet tonight Free COVID-19 tests available WEST UNION — West | CALENDAR | Union Town Council will THE JOURNAL STAFF The county’s incidence rate was at meet at 6 p.m. tonight. 10,126 cases per 100,000 residents on THURSDAY The meeting at Town SENECA — Free COVID-19 testing Monday, keeping Oconee in the top 10 WIDOWED PERSONS Moving Forward, Oconee County will meet Hall will include a discus- is being offered in Oconee and Pickens among South Carolina’s 46 counties. for lunch at 1 p.m. at Los Amigos in Seneca. (864) 985-0542 sion and vote on a munic- counties this week. Pickens County continues to place first ipal agreement with Duke South Carolina Department of Health in the same measure per 100,000 resi- OCPL FRIENDS of the Library book sale 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Energy, a first reading and Environmental Control (DHEC) dents, at 12,303. Walhalla Library basement. No appointment needed. Masks will be and vote to increase the officials will be at the Seneca Health De- required. No more than nine customers at a time. franchise rate from 4 partment at 609 N. Townville St. from One bed open at Oconee Memorial to 6 percent with Duke 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today through Friday. Hospital ICU late Sunday night MARCH 15 Energy, a second reading The testing opportunities have been OCONEE COUNTY Republican Party reorganization meeting at 7 to increase class rate for sponsored by Tour Health, according to SENECA — There was one bed avail- p.m. at Keowee Key Event Center, 1 Country Club Road, Salem. A business licenses, the DHEC. In Pickens County, free testing able in the intensive care unit at Pris- makeup meeting will be at 1 p.m. March 20. Email wjerome48@ first reading of the annual will also be available at the Pickens ma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital charter.com or (864) 723-9155. budget and a discussion Health Department at 200 McDaniel late Sunday night, according to num- and vote for a trash route Ave. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today through bers updated by the S.C. Department MARCH 20 to increase to four days. Friday. of Health and Environmental Control FLEET RESERVE Association, Branch 15, will meet at 8:30 a.m. for To preregister for testing, DHEC (DHEC). breakfast followed by a business meeting at 9 a.m. at Chicopee Salem officials plan recommends those interested use DHEC reported 11 of the 12 hospital’s United Methodist Church, 403 S. Catherine St., Walhalla. Open to meeting tonight site-specific links provided in the Con- listed ICU beds were occupied at 11:59 all former and active U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine and U.S. Coast Guard tact Details section that can be found p.m. Sunday, with three of those beds personnel. [email protected] or (864) 638-7553. SALEM — Tonight’s at scdhec.gov/covid19/find-covid-19- being used by COVID-19 patients.