| PAGE LABEL EVEN | T Vol. 117HE No. 44 JOURNALThursday, March 4, 2021 $100 WHO’S NEXT? T J Clemson running HONORING THEIR SERVICE: Local DAR chapter recognizes WWII veterans. B1 backs competing TESTIMONY: General says Pentagon hesitated on sending Guard to Capitol riot. D1 for carries. C1 WESTMINSTER Council move leaves magistrate disappointed, flustered for about five to 10 years,” Oconee County Westminster mayor open to turning Derrick said. “Every time Chief Magistrate we come up with a solution, Will Derrick isn’t it seems to me optimistic about over property for new facility that council has a proposed new found a way to magistrate’s BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Derrick said he was “kind of make it not hap- building in THE JOURNAL out of the loop” in the deci- pen. I’m pretty Westminster. sion-making process that led disappointed Derrick has WESTMINSTER — Oconee up to Tuesday night’s county and a little flus- worked in the County Chief Magistrate council meeting, where offi- tered.” current building Will Derrick said he doesn’t cials scrapped plans to build Derrick Council between West- see a future for a proposed a new building at the site of stepped away minster City magistrate’s building after the former Free Gospel Holi- from approving an $85,017 Hall and the a last-minute decision by ness Church in Westminster. action item that included the Westminster Po- county officials. “Pretty disappointing, to demolition of the 1.27-acre lice Department In an interview with The be honest. This is a pro- since 2003. Journal on Wednesday, cess that’s been going on SEE MAGISTRATE, PAGE A2 FILE OCONEE COUNTY No. 2 Seneca (16-9) No. 4 Marlboro County (10-2) Class 3A State Championship Game • Today, 3 p.m. • Aiken • WMYA-40 • WSNW 94.1 FM For more coverage, turn to page C1 Sewer board to consider split- ‘Playing for everybody’ rate structure BY NORM CANNADA Moulder. The board did THE JOURNAL not vote on the plan or the amount the change SENECA — The would increase the Oconee Joint Regional 2021-22 budget. Those Sewer Authority board votes could happen as is moving ahead on a early as next month. possible change in the The proposal would way it bills its three create two different member cities. rates for the three At its monthly member cities — Sen- meeting this week, the eca, Walhalla and board discussed a split- Westminster. rate structure proposed The pro-rata share for by Seneca city admin- each city would remain istrator and OJRSA board chairman Scott SEE STRUCTURE, PAGE A2 OCONEE COUNTY BRAD MOORE | FOR THE JOURNAL Members of the Seneca High School boys’ basketball team pose during a postgame celebration in honor of their County planning Western 3A region championship last month. The Bobcats will play for the program’s first State title today in Aiken. Bobcats look to lift community with a State championship director leaving BY ERIC SPROTT pionship game, the sec- THE JOURNAL ond-ranked Bobcats (16-9) job this month will take on fourth-ranked SENECA — Tragedy has Marlboro County (10-2) struck the Seneca commu- in the Class 3A title game BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR asset to Oconee County. nity more times in the past today (3 p.m., WMYA-40) at AND LAUREN PIERCE … You name it, he has year than anyone would the USC-Aiken Convocation THE JOURNAL done it and done it with ever care to remember. Center, playing with more grace and courtesy As if the fallout from than themselves in mind. WALHALLA — to our citizens, and I the COVID-19 pandemic “I think it’d mean a lot Oconee County’s plan- very much wasn’t enough, the scars to the community,” said ning director is moving appreciate are still readily apparent Jared Rogers, an all-state on. that.” from the EF-3 tornado guard each of the past two Adam Chapman is set Chapman that ravaged the city in years. “We’re still rebuild- to head into the private said his last the early morning hours ing from the tornado, sector later this month, day on the of April 13 last year. and COVID is hitting the county administrator job will be Couple in a late August entire world. It’d be great Amanda Brock con- March 19. car crash that killed Sen- FILE to bring joy and happiness firmed to The Journal Chapman Chapman eca High School student Seneca junior point guard Terrique Webb stands with his to the whole city.” on Wednesday. has been Lenae An'Elise Cessa mother, Angie Gaillard, inside their home after it was de- “We’ve been through “We want to make with the county since Ridge and two recent stroyed by an EF-3 tornado that ravaged Seneca in April. a lot,” junior forward sure his transition is as the fall of 2017. Brock graduates — Divonte Eli- The tornado is just one of a number of tragedies that E.J. Evett added. “We’ve easy as possible on him said Chapman’s next jah Black and Triniti Jade have struck the community over the past year. been through deaths, car while we still retain the move was a “wonder- Martin — and it’s been a accidents, the tornado, so professional services ful opportunity” and series of gut punches for School boys’ basketball about after so much heart- it’s just good to be able to he provides as plan- praised his work in the the community. team is looking to do its ache over the past year. show the community that ning director,” Brock planning department, It’s with all that in mind part this afternoon to give In their first-ever ap- said. “Mr. Chapman that the Seneca High its city something to rejoice pearance in a State cham- SEE BOBCATS, PAGE A4 has been an incredible SEE DIRECTOR, PAGE A2 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A4 COMICS B2 SPORTS C1 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B3 STOCK REPORTS D4 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 Somebody is getting their CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 TELL WILLIE B4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B2 OPINION A3 WORLD | NATION D1 tinsel in a tangle. B4 Drive a new generation of user-friendly tech. The 2021 GLA 250 SUV CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 No ICU beds open being used by COVID-19 late Tuesday night patients, at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. DIRECTOR: Leaving SENECA — There There were seven weren’t any beds avail- patients on ventilators able in the intensive care at the time of the report, FROM PAGE A1 Resources Department unit at Prisma Health with five of the patients update and review the Oconee Memorial Hos- COVID-19 positive. overseeing the Planning planning director’s job pital late Tuesday night, There were 11 venti- Commission and imple- description. She said the according to numbers lators available at the menting the Agriculture job would be posted online updated by the S.C. De- time. Advisory Board. Brock said “as soon as possible.” Wednesday’s COVID-19 partment of Health and Of the 78 hospital beds the advisory board is the Chapman had not re- Environmental Control occupied, seven were first of its kind in the state. sponded to an interview numbers at a glance (DHEC). filled by patients with “Professionally, he will request by press time Confirmed Confirmed Percent DHEC reported all 12 COVID-19. There were be very dearly missed,” Wednesday. cases deaths positive of the hospital’s listed 98 beds available at the she said. ICU beds were occupied, time of the update. Brock said Chapman [email protected] | (864) 973-6685 South Carolina 583 18 9.6% with six of those beds — The Journal staff was helping the Human [email protected] | (864) 973-6301 Oconee County 7 1 1.9%* Pickens County 19 1 2.8%* * Seven-day moving average Cumulative cases MAGISTRATE: ‘I don’t see a future’ South Carolina: 446,169 cases, 7,626 deaths Oconee County: 7,973 cases, 119 deaths FROM PAGE A1 danger in this community that they deal of thought” into the project seem so concerned about, where I’m and made a “difficult, but selfless Pickens County: 15,443 cases, 235 deaths property at the corner of Bibb and going to jam 30 people in one room decision.” East Main streets. In September in a pandemic.” “I was pleased to hear him state SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL 2019, the county paid $121,000 for Now, Derrick said he doesn’t have that he was thinking of what was the site. any hope for a new magistrate’s best for Westminster,” Ramey said. County Councilman Julian Da- building. “I think their decision to place that vis, who represents Westminster, “At this point, I don’t see a fu- property back on the market was a | CALENDAR | pitched a proposal to list the proper- ture,” he said. “I know that (county smart move considering the addi- ty for sale at no less than fair mar- administrator Amanda Brock) and tional costs they were looking at. TODAY ket value for up to a year. County (former county administrator) Scott Having a private owner purchase OCPL FRIENDS of the Library book sale in the Walhalla Library attorney David Root told The Jour- Moulder and some others have done this property will also benefit the basement, 501 W. South Broad St., Walhalla, by appointment only nal the sale can take place through all they could to make this happen, city taxpayers as well.” at 12:30, 1:30 or 2:30 p.m.