| PAGE LABEL EVEN | SIZZLING T Vol. 117HE No. 59 JOURNALThursday, March 25, 2021 $100 SPEED T J South Carolina’s COSMIC MOUTHFUL: Tasters savor fine wine that orbited Earth. B1 Horn impresses at BRIGHTER OUTLOOK: US picture encouraging as vaccinations rise and deaths fall. D1 pro day. C1 OCONEE COUNTY WEST UNION HOW MUCH? Body found inside post office BY LAUREN PIERCE Griffin, 64, was discov- 1-3 a.m. Wednesday. and it appeared he had Projected funding THE JOURNAL ered dead in the lobby West Union Police a “medical event” and expected from the of the post office at 190 Chief Josh Eppes said “sustained facial trau- American Rescue Plan WEST UNION — The S.C. Highway 11, Oconee his department was ma when he collapsed,” Oconee County body of a homeless County Coroner Karl Ad- alerted at around 4 a.m. Addis said. man was found inside dis said in a news release. after Griffin was “found Addis said in the re- $15.43 million the West Union Post Addis estimated by a civilian.” lease it appeared Griffin Seneca Office early Wednesday Griffin, who lived in Griffin was “lying planned to sleep in the morning. Walhalla “at one time,” face down on the floor $3.19 million Charles Edward died sometime between near the side entrance,” SEE BODY, PAGE A6 Walhalla $1.67 million Westminster $970,000 WALHALLA West Union $120,000 Salem $60,000 SOURCE: MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF S.C. Buying a seat at the table? With first portion of federal ‘Time to do money coming, county may try to parlay $15M into sewer seat something’ BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR ing for a study to improve THE JOURNAL and expand sewer capacity NORM CANNADA | THE JOURNAL needs for arguably the Walhalla city officials said they have tried for several months to talk to the owner of this house on Thompson WALHALLA — With fastest-growing portion Avenue about cleaning up the property, but have not heard from anyone. Now, city council is considering an more than $15 million com- of Oconee — the eastern ordinance that would allow city crews to go on to “nuisance properties,” clean them up and bill the owners. ing Oconee County’s way area between Seneca and through a massive stimulus Clemson. The study is bill, there could be a push expected to cost $70,000 to to parlay money into a $90,000 and would look at City considering ordinance to handle ‘nuisance’ properties county seat on the Oconee sewer infrastructure needs Joint Regional Sewer Au- in the area for the next 15 to BY NORM CANNADA kempt. A car without a license “The taxes are still being paid, thority Board — something 20 years. THE JOURNAL plate is parked under a carport. but I’m not sure who is paying long sought after by county In a budget meeting last City officials said they haven’t them,” he said. “No one lives in officials. week, county administra- WALHALLA — Since the had any success tracking down it. We’ve sent certified mail, and tor Amanda Brock said she middle of last year, Walhalla the owners. it’s been returned. So we have NEW LEVERAGE? had also received overtures city officials have been trying to Administrator Brent Taylor not been able to get a response.” In recent months, OJRSA from the OJRSA about a contact the owners of a property said he was first made aware of Taylor said the property is one officials have mailed at countywide basin study on Thompson Avenue. the issue last summer and added of a few where city officials have least three letters to county The property is covered with neighbors have complained officials requesting fund- SEE SEAT, PAGE A5 overgrowth and remains un- about the property. SEE PROPERTIES, PAGE A5 SCHOOLS Oconee, Pickens superintendents pleased with vaccinations School District of BY GREG OLIVER pharmacies a couple of Although the number “simple and efficient” Pickens County THE JOURNAL weeks ago. of Oconee County school for employees. She said superintendent “We appreciate (vac- employees vaccinated those who received their Danny Merck WALHALLA — The cine providers’) efforts two weeks ago and first dose have appoint- received the first superintendents of to get employees vac- those who ments scheduled 21 of two Pfizer the school districts of cinated,” School Dis- received days later to receive the vaccines avail- Oconee and Pickens trict of Oconee County vaccines on second shot. able to district counties recently voiced superintendent Michael their own is employees last their approval for Thorsland told school unknown, ‘EXTREMELY weekend. All how the first round of board trustees at a Thorsland REWARDING’ School District of COVID-19 vaccines were meeting last week. “I do said he School District of Oconee County made available to all think it’s a special job believes the Pickens County super- employees also employees who wanted when we ask a person to Thorsland number of intendent Danny Merck recently had the to participate. go into a classroom with those who said the district “could opportunity to Oconee County school 15 to 20 young people participated “means not be happier” with its receive vaccines. employees had the and you don’t know we’re going to turn the vaccine collaboration The second round opportunity to take the where they’ve been corner” in the pandem- with Prisma Health. for both districts first round of vaccina- and who they’ve been ic. District employees had will take place tions at Prisma Health hanging out with, and District spokeswoman the opportunity to par- next month. Oconee Memorial Hos- it’s been a difficult year Jennifer Dodd said the SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL pital and participating because of that.” vaccination process was SEE PLEASED, PAGE A6 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 Hark, I think I hear CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARY B2 WORLD | NATION D1 a voice of reason. B5 Take it up a notch. Or two. The 2021 A 220 Sedan CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 Prisma Health making changes to testing locations, some patient visits THE JOURNAL STAFF of the practice. Everyone entering lowed for longer visitation, includ- Wednesday’s COVID-19 practices will be screened and ing overnight stays, if that patient numbers at a glance GREENVILLE — Prisma Health masked. And, just like during flu requires extra care. Any overnight has begun moving its hospi- season, anyone who is potentially visitation must be approved in ad- Confirmed Confirmed Percent tal-based drive-thru COVID-19 ill will be sequestered apart from vance by the attending doctor and cases deaths positive testing to physicians’ offices and is other patients.” hospital administration. South Carolina 436 23 4.7% expanding some patient visitation Patients can receive an order for Most pediatric patients — includ- because of decreasing COVID-19 testing from their provider, vir- ing pediatric intensive care units Oconee County 14 0 1.7%* rates in South Carolina. tual care visit or Prisma Health’s — are permitted two care partners Pickens County 22 0 3.2%* Hospital-based COVID testing COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-2-PRIS- from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and one care * Seven-day moving average will stop Friday at hospitals, ac- MA. Patients with Prisma Health partner from 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Children cording to a Prisma news release. It providers will be tested at those in the neonatal ICU and special-care Cumulative cases will move to doctors’ offices in the primary-care physician offices. nursery may only have one care Prisma system. Oconee Memorial Patients who are symptomatic partner visit at a time, except for a South Carolina: 460,736 cases, 7,992 deaths Hospital testing, which is at 105 and want to be seen by a provider one-hour transition time when two Oconee County: 8,197 cases, 125 deaths Omni Drive Suite B, will close at to discuss treatment options in an care partners can be present. Pickens County: 15,935 cases, 245 deaths the end of day April 9. office-visit setting — but who don’t For patients undergoing special “With masking, social distancing, have a Prisma Health primary-care procedures such as colonoscopy or SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL cleaning and scrupulous adher- doctor — will be directed to Prisma ambulatory surgery, one care part- ence to protocols, we will ensure Health urgent care sites. ner is allowed but must stay in a patients are kept safe during their waiting room unless there is private visits,” said Dr. Saria Saccocio, VISITATION CHANGES space for a patient. The care partner ambulatory chief medical officer for Meanwhile, Prisma facilities may also go to post-procedure areas | CALENDAR | Prisma Health and co-chair of its also began expanding some patient for discharge instructions. vaccine task force. “Depending on visitation on Wednesday, limiting All care partners must continue TODAY the layout of each physician office, visits to just one care partner each to wear masks during visits, except WESTMINSTER AMERICAN Legion Post 107, the ladies auxiliary some locations are doing the test day under most circumstances, for those limited situations of over- and the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) will meet at 6 p.m. at the collection curbside or reserving although hours will be extended. night visitation. Care partners who Westminster Legion Hut, 205 Lucky St., Westminster, Dinner will be COVID-19 testing for the end of day, Adult patients will be permitted remain at night may remove their served.