Councilman: ‘When Are We Going to Open Up?’
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| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ‘A PROUD T Vol. 117HE No. 25 JOURNALThursday, February 4, 2021 $100 MOMENT’ T J Six Razorbacks ‘FAMILY IS EVERYTHING’: Mother meets baby delivered during COVID coma. B1 sign to play in ENCOURAGING: Study finds COVID-19 vaccine may reduce virus transmission. D1 college. C1 OCONEE COUNTY Councilman: ‘When are we going to open up?’ offices?” Durham asked. “I get emails and texts Durham openly questions county’s every week about the Walhalla City Hall to be county limited access, Fauci recommendations government not being BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Tuesday night’s council until June 30, or until accessible. closed for another month THE JOURNAL meeting came after he Gov. Henry McMaster Why is it that BY NORM CANNADA questioned the recom- revokes the ongoing state only the gov- keep City Hall closed for THE JOURNAL WALHALLA — Af- mendation of national of emergency for the Durham ernment’s in the next month during ter saying he received public health official Dr. COVID-19 pandemic. The a panic when its monthly committee multiple complaints from Anthony Fauci before county is currently cov- you have grocery stores WALHALLA — Wal- meeting on Tuesday residents about limited objecting to the second ered under an emergency and gas stations — every- halla City Hall will night. The decision operations at Oconee reading of a county fa- ordinance until later this body else — opened up?” remain closed to the continues the policy that County offices, a county cilities mask ordinance, month. Third and final Oconee County is public for at least an- started on Jan. 4 of clos- councilman is question- which passed 4-1. reading of the ordinance encouraging residents other month because ing the building to the ing why services aren’t The ordinance would is scheduled for Feb. 16. to call or email depart- of concerns about the public amid concerns fully open to the public. require face coverings in “I have a question ments ahead of any visit COVID-19 pandemic. Councilman Matthew all facilities owned and — when are we going Council agreed to SEE WALHALLA, PAGE A5 Durham’s comments at operated by the county to open up the county SEE OPEN, PAGE A5 SENECA SOUTH CAROLINA Ages 65 and older ‘I saw a need’ eligible for COVID vaccines next week Governor says teachers next to be added to list for shots THE JOURNAL STAFF health status or pre-ex- isting conditions, ac- COLUMBIA — State cording to a news release officials announced from the South Carolina Wednesday Department that South of Health and Carolina Environmen- GET YOUR SHOT residents age tal Control 65 and older To find a location (DHEC). can begin accepting vaccine People in that scheduling appointments near age category COVID-19 you, visit scdhec.gov/ can begin vaccine vaxlocator. scheduling appointments appointments next week. at that time Appointments for the by visiting scdhec.gov/ 65-and-over age group vaxlocator. Officials have can be scheduled starting Monday, regardless of SEE VACCINES, PAGE A5 OCONEE COUNTY LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL Christine Williams’ idea of snack stations for health care workers sparked a community effort to keep a steady flow of snack dona- tions going to Oconee Memorial Hospital. Williams said the commu- nity has “taken over” and donated approximately $7,600 for about Co-op, partner set 821 packages of snacks and drinks. Oconee group fueling hospital to buy fiber assets employees with ‘snack stations’ from local company PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL From top: Oconee Memorial Health emergen- BY LAUREN PIERCE bled them onto 14 rolling carts cy room workers Elaine Chapman, left, and BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR of intent to purchase THE JOURNAL to create “snack stations” they Kari Walker are shown with their cart filled THE JOURNAL Seneca-based One Tone purchased for the depart- with 400 items for emergency room workers. Telecom’s fiber and SENECA — With COVID-19 ments of the hospital. It was emptied in about 36 hours. • Oconee SENECA — After an- broadband network numbers remaining high Each cart initially averaged Memorial Hospital laboratory employees, nouncing a partnership to assets, which includes and hospital staff working 400 items when the first one from left, Kelly Faulkner, Melissa Tribble and offer a high-speed internet fiber installations and long hours, a local group has was delivered Jan. 9. Shannon Summer are shown with the snacks pilot program in October, electronic equipment teamed up with the communi- “I saw a need,” Williams provided for hospital workers. “I just wanted Blue Ridge Electric Coop- to support the network. ty to provide snack carts for said. “We know the health it to be a grab-and-go so they’re not hungry erative and West Carolina Blue Ridge is working Oconee Memorial Hospital care workers are putting or frustrated, because you know how you get Telephone Cooperative of- with WCFIBER, a subsid- employees. themselves out there every when you’re hungry,” Christine Williams said. ficials are making a move iary of the West Carolina Seneca resident Christine day and risking themselves “They have to put everybody else’s needs in to purchase fiber and Rural Telephone Cooper- Williams, her daughter, Madi, to take care of our loved ones front of their own.” • Oconee Memorial Hos- broadband assets from a ative based in Abbeville. and Williams’ friend, Lauren and our family members. pital Foundation manager Cortni Nations, left, local company. Blue Ridge vice presi- Gay, have collected about and Madi Williams stand beside a cart full of The two entities have $7,600 for snacks and assem- SEE STATIONS, PAGE A3 donations for the hospital’s staff. submitted a joint letter SEE FIBER, PAGE A3 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 I really don’t have CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 much to add. B5 The leader leaps ahead. Again. The 2021 E 350 Sedan CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 Retiring Winchester called ‘trailblazer’ for women law enforcement officers BY BRIAN GRAVES “Some people don’t realize how Wednesday’s COVID-19 THE JOURNAL heavy that badge is. Having my family’s support for all these years numbers at a glance WALHALLA — Oconee County has made the difference in me stay- Confirmed Confirmed Percent Sheriff Mike Crenshaw praised ing with the job as long as I have.” cases deaths positive newly retired Oconee County Sher- Winchester has stayed single, iff’s Office Sgt. Kelly Winchester noting her focus has remained on South Carolina 1,762 64 16.1% for her quarter of a century of law her career and she can “take care of Oconee County 29 3 5.4%* enforcement service, calling her a herself,” but she plans on spending Pickens County 47 3 5.7%* “trailblazer” for women in the field. time with her parents and making Crenshaw presented Winchester herself available to be of help if * Seven-day moving average with the Distinguished Police Ser- needed. Cumulative cases vice Award on Friday, the day she Winchester said helping others retired after 25 years of law enforce- has made her career worth all the South Carolina: 402,361 cases, 6,663 deaths ment service. effort. Oconee County: 7,340 cases, 101 deaths “I think it’s safe to say she was SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL “People make mistakes, and I a trailblazer for other females in Sheriff Mike Crenshaw presents the try to treat people like I want to be Pickens County: 14,135 cases, 204 deaths local law enforcement,” he said. “I Distinguished Police Service Award treated,” Winchester said. “It’s been remember the first female in the last week to Sgt. Kelly Winchester on so nice to hear people the last few SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL sheriff’s office would have been the occasion of her retirement after 25 weeks coming to me and telling me in the early 1980s. Today, we have years in law enforcement. how I have helped change their lives 15 or 16 female deputies. You can’t for the better.” | | function without females in law moved into that role and really She recalled one case when she CALENDAR enforcement. They play a vital role. flourished as she got it organized, was working for the Seneca Po- Kelly helped pave that way. She was calling others around the state and lice Department when a woman’s TODAY the consummate professional, and making sure we had the latest tech- ex-husband “literally broke her jaw OCL FRIENDS of the Library book sale by appointment only at for me as sheriff, that’s the kind of nologies and system to account for and everything.” 12:30, 1:30 or 2:30 p.m. in the Walhalla Library basement, 504 W. employee you want.” those offenders.” “We went to trial and he was South Broad St. by emailing [email protected]. Masks and For the past eight years, Win- Crenshaw said Winchester kept found guilty and got 10 years,” Win- social distancing required. chester headed up the sheriff’s a 95-plus percent compliance rate chester said. “I worked that case office’s sexual offender registry. “year in and year out” in the role. from start to finish myself. And FEB. 27 Crenshaw said she set the standard Winchester said although she “al- still, to this day, when that lady sees OCONEE BOARD of Disabilities and Special Needs will meet at 9:30 for that department.