| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ‘DEFINITELY T Vol. 117HE No. 55 JOURNALFriday, March 19, 2021 $100 HUGE’ T J Tigers’ tourney GIVING SOME RELIEF: Flight paramedic treats patient medical debt. B1 run starts tonight AHEAD OF TARGET: Biden says US to hit 100M vaccination goal today. D1 vs. Rutgers. C1 OCONEE COUNTY Tug of war? Dynamics of political shift show at county GOP meeting BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR meeting. Jerome, the THE JOURNAL chairman of the county party, said the room had David McMahan weighs SALEM — By his own a seated capacity of 120. admission, Bill Jerome “I’ve already had some had a problem on Mon- complaints, and they his political path ahead day night. were valid Inside the complaints,” BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR tions at the county level Keowee Key OUR VIEW Jerome said THE JOURNAL open. LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL Conference TO READ A RELATED of the venue Since Janu- About 100 political signs have recently appeared and Event EDITORIAL, TURN during the SALEM — Salem res- ary, buzz has throughout Oconee County calling for “No More RINOS!” Center, more TO PAGE A4. meeting. ident David McMahan, grown that (Republicans in name only). than 160 peo- “We don’t one of the key figures McMahan ple packed want to pushing a grassroots is gearing rently held by chairman McMahan has been into a conference room disenfranchise anybody. group of conservatives at up for a John Elliott. The District 1 vocal during the public to participate in the … I want you to know Monday night’s Oconee 2022 run at seat represents Salem and comment portions of Oconee County Repub- there’s nothing sinister County Republican Par- McMahan the District a significant amount of the recent county meetings lican Party’s biennial ty meeting, is keeping 1 Oconee Lake Keowee community precinct reorganization SEE SHIFT, PAGE A7 his future political op- County Council seat cur- — including Keowee Key. SEE MCMAHAN, PAGE A7 WESTMINSTER OCONEE COUNTY 1 airlifted, 1 arrested after Budget season begins today for ‘major’ Highway 11 wreck Oconee officials Davis believes magistrate’s project set to be finalized BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR in Walhalla. The only THE JOURNAL discussion item list- ed on the agenda is a WALHALLA — Budget budget discussion for season will officially the upcoming fiscal year kick off in Oconee Coun- that begins in July, led ty today, with officials by county administra- convening for a brief tor Amanda Brock and meeting followed by a finance director Ladale special called meeting to Price. The committee is — once again — discuss made up of all five coun- the future of the West- cil members, as opposed minster magistrate’s to other committees of office. three members. The Budget, Finance First responders were and Administration FINAL RESOLUTION? called to the intersec- Committee will begin At 10:30 a.m., Oconee tion of S.C. Highway a budget workshop at 9 County Council will 11 and Richland Road a.m. in council cham- in Westminster for a bers at 415 S. Pine St. SEE BUDGET, PAGE A6 “major motor vehicle accident,” a dispatch- er said at the time of the crash Thursday. The crash also led to WESTMINSTER a transfer truck end- ing up amongst the trees on the side of the highway. One per- son was airlifted and City council another was arrested after the wreck. PHOTOS BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL greenlights split Series of events in collision still sewer rate plan BY BRIAN GRAVES Westminster city unclear Thursday THE JOURNAL administrator Kevin Bronson told council the WESTMINSTER proposal would increase BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR — Westminster City the city’s sewer rates THE JOURNAL Council unanimously by 9.8 percent, but it endorsed a new split-rate represented the lowest WESTMINSTER — One person plan proposed for the increase currently on was flown by helicopter to an area three cities that make up the table to the city to hospital after another person the Oconee Joint Re- reduce the authority’s ran from the scene following a gional Sewer Authority projected $1.7 million three-vehicle accident Thursday truck coming to rest amongst the exact series of events were as of during its meeting this total debt for the 2021-22 evening in Westminster. trees on the side of the highway. press time Thursday. week. budget year. First responders were called to In all, three vehicles were in- The driver of a mangled car fled The OJRSA board “I think we all know the intersection of S.C. Highway volved, with a separate car coming the scene, triggering Oconee Coun- requested feedback from there is a rate increase 11 and Richland Road for a “major off the top of the transfer truck and ty Sheriff’s Office deputies to search the Seneca, Walhalla looming at the sewer motor vehicle accident,” a dispatch- going into a ditch. for the person. Deputies later caught and Westminster city authority, because there er said at the time of the crash a Officials said they believe a car the man near Sigmon Drive and councils on the plan be- is not sufficient reve- little before 5:45 p.m. Thursday. ran a red light at the intersection, fore a possible vote that The crash also led to a transfer although it was unclear what the SEE WRECK, PAGE A3 could come next month. SEE PLAN, PAGE A3 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B2 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B3 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 This is me bursting COLUMNISTS B2 OBITUARIES B4 WORLD | NATION D1 your bubble. B4 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021 Three beds open late | CALENDAR | Wednesday at Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU City suggests bikers SATURDAY SENECA — There were FLEET RESERVE Association, three beds available in Branch 15, will meet at 8:30 the intensive care unit a.m. for breakfast followed by at Prisma Health Oconee access bike park via a business meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday’s COVID-19 Memorial Hospital late at Chicopee United Methodist Wednesday night, accord- Church, 403 S. Catherine St., numbers at a glance ing to numbers updated Walhalla. Open to all former by the S.C. Department of Stumphouse Park and active U.S. Navy, U.S. Confirmed Confirmed Percent Health and Environmen- Marine and U.S. Coast Guard cases deaths positive tal Control (DHEC). THE JOURNAL STAFF and working with our personnel. spencer.carol@att. South Carolina 856 6 6.3% DHEC reported nine partners to come to a net or (864) 638-7553. of the 12 hospital’s listed WALHALLA — Wal- resolution,” Oconee County 8 0 1.4%* ICU beds were occupied halla city officials are Burton said THE OCONEE County Pickens County 32 0 2%* at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, asking residents to in a news Republican Party precinct * Seven-day moving average with two of those beds temporarily access the release reorganization meeting sched- being used by COVID-19 Stumphouse Mountain Thursday uled for March 20 will take Cumulative cases patients. Bike Park through the afternoon. place at 10 a.m. March 26 at South Carolina: 457,217 cases, 7,896 deaths There were two patients city’s park entrance off “In the Gignilliat Community Center, on ventilators at the time Highlands Highway. interim, we 621 N. Townville St., Seneca. Oconee County: 8,144 cases, 125 deaths of the report, with one The move comes after Burton ask that all [email protected] Pickens County: 15,803 cases, 243 deaths of the patients COVID-19 some bikers were given users access positive. There were 16 tickets for violations the Stumphouse Moun- MARCH 27 SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ventilators available at by what appeared to tain Bike Park through THE AMERICAN Christian the time. be officers of the S.C. the Stumphouse Moun- Writers’ South Carolina Chap- Of the 101 hospital beds Department of Natural tain Tunnel Park off ter will meet at 2 p.m.at North occupied, three were Resources (DNR). Highlands Highway. Anderson Baptist Church, KEOWEE BREWING presents filled by patients with Walhalla fire chief This should eliminate 2308 N. Main St., Anderson. COVID-19. There were 75 and interim city ad- any potential legal is- Masks required. The meeting Friday, March 19 beds available at the time ministrator Brandon sues for the short term is free and visitors welcome. of the update. Burton said officials are regarding trail access Scwritersacfw.blogspot.com 6:30 PM still looking into the and use. On The Lawn Weather Permitting Walhalla student tests issue of bikers on the “Once the assess- WIDOWED PERSONS Moving Forward, Oconee County will heath positive for COVID-19 gravel road and adja- ment is complete, we cent trails going into will communicate the meet for breakfast at 9 a.m. WALHALLA — The the Stumphouse Moun- findings, along with at The Farm Café, Route 59, rankin School District of Oconee tain Bike Park off Ross the placement of any Westminster. (864) 985-0542 Great Food Available County said Thursday Mountain Road. signs and markings that Starting At 4 PM that a Walhalla High He told The Journal need to be made on the MARCH 31 Crafted by Blue Marble Deli School student was the officials were trying to ground,” he added. “The THE OCONEE Board of BRING YOUR FRIENDS & JOIN THE FUN! only person in the district contact DNR officials city of Walhalla appre- Disabilities and Special Needs who tested positive for to figure out what was ciates your patience as will meet at 9:30 a.m.