| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ‘IMPORTANT T Vol. 117HE No. 129 JOURNALFriday, July 2, 2021 $100 DAY’ T J College athletes ‘SHINE A SPOTLIGHT’: SC7 kicks off monthlong expedition across state. B1 now able to profit ‘AUDACIOUS’: Trump Organization, CFO indicted on tax fraud charges. D1 on NIL. C1 WALHALLA SENECA ‘A whole new tragedy’ JERRY BEARD | THE JOURNAL The Blood Connection phlebotomist Tyrese Bradley takes blood from Seneca resident Valerie Balletto on Thursday. ‘Everything helps’ Blood Connection hosts drive for ‘critical time’ BY LAUREN PIERCE “I didn’t know this THE JOURNAL until the other day, but a lot of people have SENECA — The been in the hospital Blood Connection lately because they PHOTOS BY JERRY BEARD | THE JOURNAL (TBC) hosted an emer- need blood transfu- Decota Brown, center, listens as his cousin Kate Fountain reads an impact statement during Brown’s murder trial in gency blood drive at sions,” she said. “The Walhalla on Thursday. Brown’s adoptive parents, Dee and Eric Brown, listen at left. The Journal’s office only blood types we’ve Thursday to combat been having is A and historically low blood one other one. We donor turnouts over the really need O positive, Guilty on all counts, Brown sentenced to 70 years past several months. O negative and AB TBC phlebotomist positive. Everybody Mahogany Strong said needs blood transfu- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Brown, spoke with The Journal Gerri now is a “critical time” THE JOURNAL about another family tragedy. Castle to give blood. SEE DRIVE, PAGE A3 “Two years ago, our family smiles in WALHALLA — Decota suffered a tragedy,” he said a picture Brown was sentenced to spend with tears in his eyes. “To- provided 70 years in state prison after a day, justice was served, but by mem- jury took a little more than 15 it starts a whole new tragedy, bers of HOLIDAY TRAVEL minutes Thursday to convict because we’ve lost another her fami- him of murder and two other member of our family. This is ly. Castle’s charges in the 2019 killing of a tragedy that we’ll heal from, grandson, his grandmother. but will never fully be done. Decota “This is a young man who Right now, those of us that are Brown, SCHP advises clearly made choices that were left in charge of the family was sen- not good. However, I can tell will put it back together and tenced to you from my work for Mr. move on.” 70 years Brown that he has the ability to Kate Fountain, Brown’s in prison contribute to society,” she said. cousin, read a statement to the on three public on safe Brown declined to provide a court on behalf of the family charges, statement to the court outside before Gravely issued his sen- including of saying he was “gonna fight tence. While she was reading, murder, this to the end and file all my multiple jurors were crying or in con- travel for July 4 appeals.” had tears in their eyes. nection “On March 11, 2019, we with her BROWN’S ADOPTIVE lost our mom, grandma, 2019 BY BRU NIMMONS said. “People are on FATHER: VERDICT STARTS great-grandma, best friend, killing on THE JOURNAL vacation, kids are out ‘A WHOLE NEW TRAGEDY’ greatest cheerleader and Thursday. of school and we are Moments after the sentencing, COURTESY SENECA — With seeing increased traffic Brown’s adoptive father, Eric SEE GUILTY, PAGE A5 CASTLE FAMILY travel picking up as on the roadways.” Independence Day South Carolina’s nears, Lance Cpl. Joe 100 Deadly Days of Hovis of the South Car- Summer, the period olina Highway Patrol between Memorial is preaching caution Day and Labor Day on South Carolina’s when traffic fatalities Attorney again cites ‘inflammatory’ roadways. typically increase, saw “People need to a decrease from 36,652 media coverage in effort to end trial realize we are still in accidents in 2019 to the 100 Deadly Days BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR the judge, a change of venue of Summer,” Hovis SEE TRAVEL, PAGE A5 THE JOURNAL and a mistrial for previous testimony given Wednesday. WALHALLA — A final “I would ask the court for a move for Decota Brown to motion for a new trial based receive a new on the court’s trial over “in- rulings, based flammatory” on the contin- OUR VIEW media coverage TO READ A RELATED ued inflam- was shut down, matory press EDITORIAL, TURN again, by Judge articles, and TO PAGE A4. Perry Gravely I’m concerned after Brown’s about whether defense at- the jury has torney made one final push truly been able to give a fair Thursday. and impartial decision,” she Minutes before Gravely sen- said. “While I understand the FILE Defense attorney Kathleen Hodges speaks tenced Brown to 70 years in jury has indicated they were South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Joe Hovis Thursday during the trial of Decota Brown at the state prison, Kathleen Hodges said his agency will be “all hands on deck” this Oconee County Courthouse in Walhalla. asked for a direct verdict from SEE ATTORNEY, PAGE A5 weekend for the July 4 holiday. | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 Have CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D4 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D3 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 you seen the news about COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 the labor shortage? B5 A STRONGER CONNECTION HIGH-SPEED, RELIABLE INTERNET. FOR EVERYONE. UpcountryFiber.com | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021 Blondeau’s contract finalized Seneca woman not resigned, the term of his agree- also include a $500 lump sum ve- Administrator will ment shall then be in effect from Jan. hicle allowance from the city each 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, and month toward the operating expens- dies in accident shall automatically renew each year es of his personal vehicle in lieu of unless council removes Mr. Blondeau providing a city-owned vehicle, a THE JOURNAL STAFF Addis said the colli- receive $135K from the position of city administra- $5,000 life insurance policy equal to sion was reported at 6:12 tor, Mr. Blondeau resigns the benefit given to other employees, SALEM — A Seneca p.m. on Burnt Tanyard annual salary or the parties renegotiate an initial six-month review by coun- woman died early Thurs- Road near Salem. She and enter into a new or cil “in or about late December 2021 day night from injuries was not wearing a seat- revised employment or early January 2022 and, thereaf- suffered in a wreck. belt and “was partially BY GREG OLIVER agreement.” ter, an annual performance evalua- Oconee County Coro- ejected from the vehi- THE JOURNAL Blondeau served as tion” conducted by council. The deal ner Karl Addis identified cle,” according to Addis. assistant city adminis- also includes severance pay from the woman as Amber He said there were no CLEMSON — Clemson Mayor trator for more than a the city for six months at his rate of Leigh Parker, 23. He said other occupants in the Robert Halfacre told The Journal on Blondeau decade prior to being pay or until he obtains and starts she died at the scene. vehicle. Thursday a recently finalized con- named acting city admin- employment of equal or greater pay, tract with new city administrator istrator in January 2020 following the should that occur before the end of Andy Blondeau includes an initial departure of longtime city admin- the six-month severance pay period annual base salary of $135,000. istrator Rick Cotton. A month later, if council terminates the city ad- | CALENDAR | “We, the City Council, are thrilled council approved a contract calling ministrator employment agreement to announce the position of City for a base salary of $113,000, a $400 without cause prior to Dec. 31, 2022, MONDAY Administrator has officially been lump sum monthly vehicle allowance according to the contract. OCONEE GOLD Prospectors Association of America will meet at 7 filled by Andy Blondeau as the and severance pay for 12 months. While Blondeau remains employed p.m. at Hibachi Grill in Clemson. contract has been signed,” Halfacre While plans were for Blondeau with the city as administrator, each said in an email. “He has served the to serve in an interim capacity for succeeding Jan. 1 (beginning Jan. 1, TUESDAY city well as interim administrator six months, council twice extended 2023) one month will be added to the POWERFUL CLUB of Toastmasters International will meet at 6 p.m. and is poised to create an environ- his contract. In the latest extension, potential severance pay period. The via Zoom. For a Zoom link, call (864) 944-5735. ment that fosters empowerment and approved in November and run- annual addition of one month of po- growth in employees.” ning through June 30 of this year, tential severance pay will continue WEDNESDAY The initial term of the agreement Blondeau was awarded a $10,000 until the maximum of 12 months of ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT group meeting at 2 p.m. at Clemson will be in effect from July 1, 2021, bonus in appreciation of the double potential severance pay is reached. Downs in the Corley Center, 150 Downs Blvd., Clemson. If a no-cost, to Dec. 31, 2021, “or until such time, duties he handled. Blondeau said he was “honored in-home sitter is needed in order to attend, call 1-800-272-3900. if it occurs sooner, that council Last month, council unanimously to be selected for the position and Meetings are open to family members who have someone with removes Mr.