| PAGE LABEL EVEN | BACK ON T Vol. 117HE No. 87 JOURNALTuesday, May 4, 2021 $100 TRACK T J Tigers picking ‘FRESH IS BEST’: Seneca meal prep business offers freshly made options. B1 up steam after COVID CONTRAST: Restrictions easing in US and Europe amid disaster in India. D1 slow start. C1 WESTMINSTER Firefighter on leave after sex harassment complaint BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR diately, told The Journal The investigation complaint alleged the THE JOURNAL he is unsure when the in- comes a little more than employee had “physically vestigation will conclude, a year after the county touched and/or grabbed WESTMINSTER — A although he said it is a top spent nearly $7,000 on a other employees of OCES Westminster Fire Depart- priority for the city. third-party investigator in their private area,” ac- ment employee has been Oconee County adminis- to vet claims of sexual ha- cording to emails obtained placed on unpaid admin- trator Amanda Brock told rassment and misconduct by The Journal through a istrative leave after being The Journal she was aware against a top Westminster Freedom of Information accused of sexual harass- of the alleged complaint Fire Department official. Act request. Another com- ment. and that it happened, in plaint from “concerned City administrator Kev- part, at a county-owned fa- OCONEE COUNTY SPENT individuals” alleged mis- in Bronson confirmed to cility on Emergency Lane MORE THAN $6K ON conduct ranging from hug- The Journal the employee that houses the Westmin- INVESTIGATION IN 2020 ging and kissing to “even was placed on leave last ster Fire Department and Stories published by sexual intercourse with Wednesday. He declined Oconee County Emergency The Journal last October one of his firefighters.” RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL to identify the employee. Services. reported at least three Oconee County Council A Westminster Fire Department firefighter is on unpaid Bronson, who said the in- “We have a zero-toler- anonymous complaints opted to leave the results administrative leave after being accused of sexual harass- vestigation into the alleged ance policy for any type of were filed against the fire ment. The department shares a building with Oconee Coun- harassment began imme- harassment,” Brock said. department official. One SEE FIREFIGHTER, PAGE A3 ty Emergency Services on Emergency Lane in Westminster. SENECA OCONEE COUNTY ‘Grow in every aspect’ Sewer board delays budget BY NORM CANNADA its $4.6 million budget for THE JOURNAL the 2021-22 budget year after an amendment that SENECA — The a proposed rate increase Oconee Joint Regional for the member cities be Sewer Authority board delayed a vote Monday on SEE SEWER, PAGE A2 CLEMSON CU trustees to set tuition today THE JOURNAL STAFF OUR VIEW CLEMSON — The TO READ A RELATED Clemson University EDITORIAL, TURN Board of Trustees is set TO PAGE A4. to meet for a second time Redmond Boys in less than two weeks Produce and Plants this morning, aiming to owner Jonathan Redmond Boys Produce finalize tuition fees and will begin at 8 a.m., with Redmond and his other fees for the next the agenda listing just wife, Misty Taylor, school year. have been working and Plants ‘evolving’ The online meeting SEE TUITION, PAGE A5 to take the business to a “new level.” Al- ready a destination BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR for local shoppers THE JOURNAL looking to get fresh OCONEE COUNTY local produce and SENECA — For Jona- fresh seafood, the than Redmond, it’s been market now also all about mastering one offers a pottery industry before moving business next door. into the next. PHOTOS BY JERRY BEARD | For nearly 20 years, THE JOURNAL Redmond has been the Final decision? owner of Redmond Boys, which has morphed into Redmond Boys Produce Magistrate’s building back and Plants. Located on the corner of East Main and North Cherry eca, the family business on county’s agenda tonight streets in downtown Sen- prides itself on selling the freshest produce and BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR building tonight. seafood, along with a THE JOURNAL A fresh price tag of bounty of nursery prod- $921,040 for Trehel WANT TO GO? ucts to stock gardens. WALHALLA — Af- Corporation to demolish Redmond Boys Produce “One thing about small ter years of research the former Free Gospel and Plants is open 10 business is that it gives and tense discussions, Holiness Church in you the opportunity to Oconee County Council Westminster and replace a.m.-6 p.m., Monday grow in every aspect of will determine the fate it with a 3,581-square-foot through Saturday. of the proposed West- SEE REDMOND, PAGE A3 minster magistrate’s SEE BUILDING, PAGE A5 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 Some CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 folks just won’t take off COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARY B2 WORLD | NATION D1 the blinders. B6 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2021 COUNTY TO BE ASKED | CALENDAR | FOR $1.5M UPFRONT SEWER: Moulder COSTS FOR SEWER SOUTH TODAY Earlier in the meeting, THE POWERFUL Club of Toast- the board voted unani- master International will meet asks for phased hikes mously to direct Brandt via Zoom at 6 p.m. Individuals to contact Oconee County interested in improving their officials to ask them to communications and leadership FROM PAGE A1 of Walhalla and Westmin- provide $1.5 million to the skills are welcome. For Zoom ster they did not believe sewer authority for up- link, call (864) 944-5735. Monday’s COVID-19 phased in over three years. the sewer authority could front, reimbursable costs Instead, the board phase in the rate hikes. for Sewer South Phase II, a THURSDAY numbers at a glance instructed attorney Larry The budget calls for Sen- $5 million project to bring OCPL FRIENDS of the Library Confirmed Confirmed Percent Brandt to meet with Oconee eca to pay $1,236,141 more sewer service to southern book sale every Thursday in cases deaths positive County officials to see if the — 76.1 percent more than Oconee. The county is pay- the Walhalla Library basement county would provide $1.5 this year — in fees next ing the sewer authority for from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. No South Carolina 398 4 4.3% million in upfront money year because a larger por- sewer-related costs it in- more than nine customers at a Oconee County 14 0 4.4%* to pay for reimbursable ex- tion of the area where the curs for Sewer South I and time. Masks will be required. Pickens County 10 0 2.1%* penses that board members second fee is in place is in II. Board members said believe would allow them to Seneca’s service territory. getting the county to pay MAY 13 * Seven-day moving average phase in the rate hikes. Walhalla would pay an ad- for the upfront costs would WIDOWED PERSONS Moving Cumulative cases ditional $97,086 (13 percent take the pressure off the Forward, Oconee County will MOULDER MAKES CASE more than this year), and OJRSA in a tight budget meet for lunch at 1 p.m. at South Carolina: 483,317 cases, 8,383 deaths FOR PHASE-IN Westminster would pay year. Eleazer also proposed Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe in Oconee County: 8,789 cases, 127 deaths After a motion was made $64,061 extra (13.7 percent billing the costs of OJRSA Seneca. For more information, and seconded to approve more than this year). employee time being spent call Rita at (864) 985-0542 Pickens County: 16,833 cases, 258 deaths the budget, board chairman Moulder noted that the on Sewer South II. and Seneca city adminis- overall budget is increas- In the discussion about MAY 15 Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU occupancy trator Scott Moulder made ing by $1.1 million, but Sen- his phase-in request, FLEET RESERVE Association, Total ICU beds: 12 Beds occupied: 9 a motion to amend the eca is paying $1.2 million Moulder noted the plan Branch 15, will meet at 8:30 Beds occupied by COVID patients: 0 budget, phasing in the rate and that Seneca has about wouldn’t damage the sewer a.m. for breakfast followed by increases on the cities of $8 million in expenses it authority’s fund balance a business meeting at 9 a.m. SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL Seneca, Walhalla and West- had to pay out during the next year if it could get at Chicopee United Methodist minster over three years. response to the EF3 torna- the $1.5 million for Sewer Church, 403 S. Catherine St., The rate increase reflects do in April 2020 that hasn’t South costs from the coun- Walhalla. Open to all former No better way a new pro-rata share for yet been reimbursed by the ty. Brandt said he would and enlisted active U.S. Navy, line and pump station federal government. be willing to try to contact U.S. Marine and U.S. Coast to start your day... operations and mainte- “The city of Seneca is up county officials this week. Guard personnel. spencer.car- nance outside the gates of 76.1 percent,” he told the After several minutes of [email protected] or (864) 638-7553. the Coneross Wastewater board. “Everyone else is discussion, board mem- Call 882-2375 Treatment Plant. Moulder paying 13 percent (more). bers voted unanimously TO SUBMIT your event, email to subscribe had asked for a phase-in I think that’s important to table the budget vote.