| PAGE LABEL EVEN | BACK IN THE SADDLE T Vol. 116HE No. 327 JOURNALWednesday, November 18, 2020 $100 Tigers’ Lawrence ‘back to normal’ COMMUNITY CARE: Clemson-Sunrise Rotary Club to assist local nonprofits. B1 after bout with ‘WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE’: States plead for more federal help fighting virus. D1 COVID-19. C1 CLEMSON SENECA Clemson officials get final report Turning on the lights from consultant Downtown Christmas display begins Friday night Steering committee chair: ‘Now the real work begins’ BY NORM CANNADA THE JOURNAL BY GREG OLIVER consulting firm was THE JOURNAL presented by moratori- SENECA — um steering committee ity employees from various CLEMSON — Clemson chairman and city departments were busy City Council is prepar- councilman-elect Bob Tuesday above, inside and ing to roll up its sleeves Brookover. around the base of Seneca’s and get to work next “Now the real work C32-foot Christmas tree, getting it week on strategic plan begins,” Brookover said. ready for the holiday season. recommendations for “It's a very complex They checked to make sure the handling future growth document, and it’s like lights on the tree were working, but in the city after receiv- the old question ‘How the tree won’t be lit up for the public ing consultant Develop- do you eat an elephant?’ until the annual tree lighting cer- ment Strategies’ final One bite at a time.” emony at 5 p.m. Nov. 30, just before report Monday night. The report includes the city’s annual parade. The report from But the rest of the Christmas show the St. Louis-based SEE REPORT, PAGE A3 — with lights and music — is set to SEE CHRISTMAS, PAGE A5 OCONEE COUNTY Right: Seneca buildings and projects employee Robert Bird works at the top of the city Christmas tree on Tuesday. Below: Students from the Two councilmen Hamilton Career Center’s employee education program work on a large “present” that will be lit up as people walk through it, one of the additions question county to the downtown Christmas lights in Seneca. The lights will be turned on for the public to walk through or drive through each night beginning on dozer purchase Friday at 5:30 p.m. PHOTOS BY NORM CANNADA | THE JOURNAL BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR dozer with a trash rack THE JOURNAL and the warranty pro- cess, respectively. WALHALLA — McCall said, in his Oconee County Council moved Tuesday night SEE DOZER, PAGE A5 to spend more than half a million dollars on an expensive piece of equip- ment to boost its landfill oper- ations, but not before two coun- cilmen questioned the item ahead of voting. Councilmen Cost breakdown of Glenn Hart and Wayne McCall county’s new dozer voiced their concern at the Equipment $579,176.40 meeting about Sales tax $35,513.29 the $627,401.50 Interest $12,711.81 price tag of a John Deere TOTAL $627,401.50 1050K crawler WALHALLA Walhalla city officials looking at parade safety measures BY NORM CANNADA Police Chief Sean Brin- with the deadline set for including spacing 6 distancing or mask wear- The big issue is going to THE JOURNAL son, Fire Chief Brandon Friday. Taylor said there feet apart and wearing ing for those attending the be spacing among specta- Burton and city admin- were 50 entries in 2019. a mask, no riding on parade. tors.” WALHALLA — City istrator Brent Taylor to “The online registration trailers or in truck beds, Taylor said enforcement Edwards said he would officials are working to look at coronavirus safety is new, so I’m sure there’s parents dropping off and could be difficult. set up a meeting with address ways to make this measures for the parade, regulars that haven’t done picking up students at “We have to assume Taylor, Brinson and year’s Walhalla Christ- which is scheduled for that,” Imbody said. the parade site and not it will be somewhat like Burton “in a few days.” He mas parade safer in light Dec. 5. Councilwoman Sa- making participation last year as far as people added earlier discussion of the COVID-19 pandem- Main Street Walhalla rai Melendez brought mandatory or affecting a watching, so trying to had already included talk ic. director Libby Imbody up guidelines from the student’s grade. spread that out will be a about not allowing candy Mayor Danny Edwards told council Tuesday School District of Oconee Melendez asked wheth- challenge,” he said. “It to be thrown to the crowd said he planned to set there are about 20 pa- County for students er the city could enforce will put some pressure up a meeting soon with rade entry applications, participating in parades, guidelines such as social on our officers to do that. SEE PARADE, PAGE A8 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A8 COMICS B4 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B5 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 That’s a real dumb CLASSIFIEDS D3 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B4 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 thing to say. B8 Seasonal Lake Keowee Views 4 BR, 3.5 BA, Finished Terrace Lvl Screened Porch, Deck & Patio Minutes to Clemson, Keowee Sailing Club, Restaurants & More melaniefink.com | 303 Rochester Hwy, Seneca | 864-888-3211 Priced at $475,000 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | CALENDAR | 8 new virus cases reported in Oconee TODAY County schools NOT MEETING UNTIL FUR- THER NOTICE – DAV veterans WALHALLA — The advocates Terry Neale (864) School District of Tuesday’s COVID-19 647-4227 or (303) 501-4273, Oconee County report- Michael Brown (678) 858- ed eight new positive numbers at a glance 6052 or Mike O’Shields (864) COVID-19 cases across Confirmed Confirmed Percent 247-1577 will be at the Knights the district on Tues- cases deaths positive of Columbus meeting hall, 112 day. E. North 2nd St., Seneca, from The district said a South Carolina 1,088 11 13.8% 1-5 p.m. to assist veterans with Ravenel Elementary Oconee County 29 1 16.8% VA benefits. student tested positive on Saturday, while a Pickens County 43 0 22% NORM CANNADA |THE JOURNAL THURSDAY West-Oak High stu- Seven-day moving average AMERICAN LEGION Post dent and a Blue Ridge Cumulative cases 107, Sons of the American Elementary employee OHS provides free pet food Legion (SAL) and the ladies tested positive Sunday. South Carolina: 186,528 cases, 3,884 deaths auxiliary will meet at 6 p.m. Five positive cases Oconee County: 2,813 cases, 35 deaths Oconee Humane Society volunteer Chris Piper, right, hands at the Westminster Legion were confirmed on out pet food to Krystal Alewine, center, and Patricia Hol- Hut, lower level, 205 Lucky Monday, including Pickens County: 5,307 cases, 68 deaths brooks. The humane society gave away pet food Tuesday St., Westminster. Masks and two West-Oak High afternoon through a program called Thankful Tuesday at Ann social distancing are required. students and a Seneca SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL Hope United Methodist in the Utica community. A meal will not be served. All Middle student and two veterans invited. employees — one each Paid Advertising from Seneca Middle OCONEE COUNTY Friends of and Keowee Elemen- the Library book sale at the tary. Cost of Waiting to Library closes after Walhalla Library will be by The latest cases bring appointment only by emailing the district's overall [email protected]. total to 148 since the Purchase a Home new school year began SATURDAY Aug. 24. In this uncertain real estate market, positive COVID case many buyers may be playing the waiting FLEET RESERVE Association, The school dis- Branch 15, business meeting at trict has also added game when it comes to purchasing 8:45 a.m. at Chicopee United classroom and school a home. There are advantages and Seneca branch cleaned Tuesday Methodist Church, 403 S. Cath- closures to its daily disadvantages to this strategy. Waiting erine St., Walhalla. Spencer. COVID-19 report. could mean you have more time to save BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Hinson said in an email to [email protected] (864) 638-7553 The latest classroom for a larger down payment, but waiting THE JOURNAL The Journal. closures involved a could also mean you end up paying more HOME All other branches DEC. 17 second-grade class at interest. BUYING SENECA — The Seneca remain open during their KEOWEE FIRE Department Northside Elementary Interest rates are at historic lows! library is set to reopen on regular hours, and any Commission will meet at 3 and a self-contained Lower interest rates mean lower SUE ANN Monday after a staff mem- items on hold at the Sen- p.m. Everyone welcome. class at Ravenel Ele- payments. This has prompted a surge in GUTHMAN ber contracted COVID-19. eca branch can be picked mentary on Nov. 9. mortgage refinances. In addition, serious The library has been up at other branches upon TO SUBMIT your event, email buyers are moving forward with their closed this week after a request. [email protected]. — The Journal staff home search amid these uncertain economic times. worker — who had not In the past few years, home prices have been on a steady been in the branch since incline as inventory has been dwindling. Utilizing the Nov. 9 — received confir- “wait and see” approach to house hunting may not work in mation of a positive test your favor. Waiting even a few months to purchase could result Saturday, accord- decrease your purchasing power. ing to Oconee County If you are looking to sell your home and purchase Public Library system another, you also may be inclined to wait to see how much director Blair Hinson.