| PAGE LABEL EVEN | RUNNER-UP T Vol. 117HE No. 4 JOURNALWednesday, January 6, 2021 $100 Lawrence ties T J for Tigers’ BLAZE OF GLORY: Historic Soapstone Church celebrates mortgage burning. B1 best finish in ‘WORK IS NOT DONE’: No charges against officer who shot Jacob Blake. D1 Heisman vote. C1 OCONEE COUNTY DHEC: Oconee ICU beds nearly full as of Sunday (DHEC) officials provided the according to data provided by up beds. A total of 92 inpatient most recent update to The DHEC. Of the 18 ventilators the beds were in use out of the 154 Demand has tripled for COVID-19 Journal on Tuesday morning, hospital has, 11 were in use at total, equating to a 59.74 percent showing 10 of the 11 total ICU the time, with 10 of those being utilization rate. convalescent plasma for treatment beds were occupied on Sunday. used by COVID-19 patients. On Prisma Health has not shared Dec. 31, State Rep. Neal Collins CONVALESCENT or released any campus-specific of Easley said in a social media PLASMA NEEDED BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Hospital were nearly full as statistics on hospital capacity, post that there had also been The most recent update pro- THE JOURNAL recently as Sunday, occupied directing The Journal’s inqui- a staffing shortage of nurses vided by DHEC comes as the entirely by COVID-19 patients. ries to DHEC. reported at the hospital. Blood Connection (TBC) reports SENECA — ICU beds at Pris- S.C. Department of Health All ICU beds in use had been As of Sunday, there were also ma Health Oconee Memorial and Environmental Control occupied by COVID-19 patients, 29 COVID-19 inpatients taking SEE BEDS, PAGE A5 CLEMSON WALHALLA Clemson kicks off formal search ‘Protect the people’ for administrator BY GREG OLIVER termed as a memoran- THE JOURNAL dum of understanding, that ended 24 years in CLEMSON — During the job. the first Clemson City On Monday night, Council meeting of marking the first coun- 2020, longtime city cil meeting of the new administrator Rick year, new Mayor Rob- Cotton submitted his resignation, later SEE SEARCH, PAGE A3 OCONEE COUNTY Elliott voted new council chairman BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR approved as chairman FILE THE JOURNAL by his Walhalla City Council voted Tuesday night to close City Hall for 30 days to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. peers in the WALHALLA — 20-minute Unlike last year’s meeting chairman nomination that estab- Walhalla City Hall closing for 30 days due to COVID process, when a former lished the councilman stormed council’s out of chambers, Tues- meeting BY LAUREN PIERCE The proposal for the closure having any staff member coming in day night’s Oconee Elliott schedule for THE JOURNAL was brought up amid increased contact with the virus would cause County Council meet- 2021. concerns regarding the spread of “a strain.” ing was uneventful. “First, I want to WALHALLA — Walhalla City COVID-19 and the public congregat- “We had someone leave and we’ve District 1 Councilman thank the team for the Council passed a motion at Tues- ing without wearing masks. got someone that is training,” John Elliott was unani- day’s meeting to officially close City Mayor Danny Edwards said City mously nominated and SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A5 Hall for 30 days, effective today. Hall was already short-staffed, and SEE CITY HALL, PAGE A3 CLEMSON Clemson president ‘excited’ to begin semester today Clemson Univer- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR of COVID-19 in the commu- cines brings great hope, we sity students will THE JOURNAL nity. expect the next few months return to classes In the letter sent Tuesday, to remain challenging,” he on campus for the CLEMSON — In a letter Clements ac- said. “At the same time, our spring semester to the campus community, knowledged the experience in the fall has today, and presi- Clemson University presi- spring semester shown us that we can pro- dent Jim Clements dent Jim Clements said offi- will be “chal- vide a safe environment for said university cials are “excited” to begin lenging” with our students and employees administrators the spring semester today. the ever-devel- through aggressive testing will be closely Students return for in-per- oping COVID-19 and adherence to com- monitoring the son and online learning pandemic. mon sense interventions, COVID-19 situa- today after in-person learn- Clements “As we move such as social distancing, tion around the ing was cut short for the into the new hand-washing and wearing state after in-per- fall semester when Clemson semester, we continue face coverings.” son learning was officials told students not to to closely monitor the Clemson officials an- cut short for the return after Thanksgiving COVID-19 situation in South nounced during a board fall semester. break, citing concern over Carolina, and although the FILE the potential for the spread development of multiple vac- SEE SEMESTER, PAGE A5 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 That Yogi Berra was CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 one smart guy. B6 Seasonal Lake Views 3 BR, 2.5 BA, 2 Car Garage Bright, Spacious, Open Floor-plan Large Deck & Covered Patio w Lake Views Amenity Rich Keowee Key Subdivision melaniefink.com | 303 Rochester Hwy, Seneca | 864-888-3211 Priced at $499,000 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021 Teen rescued Public hearing on proposed at Brasstown BY BRIAN GRAVES Central annexation tonight THE JOURNAL Tuesday’s COVID-19 BY GREG OLIVER answered, but what the annexation boils WESTMINSTER — A numbers at a glance THE JOURNAL down to is “Do we want this (property) to 17-year-old boy was res- be part of the town or do we cued Monday night at Confirmed Confirmed Percent CENTRAL — Central residents up not?” Brasstown Falls after cases deaths positive in arms over the proposed annexation “We’d like to see something suffering a broken leg, South Carolina 2,285 12 30.7% of property on Lawton Road into town that if he’s going to develop rendering him unable limits will have an opportunity to it, as we’re led to believe, we to leave the area under Oconee County 78 0 29.2%* voice their opinions at a public hearing would have some input as to his own power. Pickens County 91 0 34.7%* tonight. how it’s done,” Mishoe said. Oconee Emergency * Seven-day moving average The hearing is scheduled to take place “We would like a nice neigh- Medical Services direc- at 6:30 p.m. at the Central-Clemson Mishoe borhood if that’s what he tor Scott Krein said the Cumulative cases Recreation Center’s Herbert Thompson plans to do. There are some rescue operation began South Carolina: 302,003 cases, 5,068 deaths Center. Rules for the public hearing will options, but if we don’t come to the table around 6 p.m. and end- be announced, followed by presentations with them, we don’t have a say-so.” ed some five hours later. Oconee County: 5,411 cases, 60 deaths by Mayor Mac Martin and Jeff Skeris of Although town council has already “It’s a very rough area, Pickens County: 10,754 cases, 142 deaths Great Southern Homes. given approval for the first of two re- and there are not many While a number of residents spoke in quired readings, Mayor Mac Martin said trails,” Krein said, add- SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL opposition last month to reports that council won’t vote on the final reading ing rescuers had to use a 100 new homes would be constructed tonight, but plans to have it on the rope system to get to the on Lawton Road, town administrator agenda for its next regularly scheduled teen. “We were grateful Phillip Mishoe said no plans have been meeting Monday night. for the assistance of | | formally submitted. When asked whether a number of Anderson and Pickens CALENDAR “The developer hasn’t said what he’s people are still expressing opposition counties in helping get going to do with it if, in fact, he does any- evidenced by those who spoke at the De- the young man.” THURSDAY thing,” Mishoe said. “We’ve been led to cember council meeting, Martin replied, Krein said the teen OCL FRIENDS of the Library book sale will be by appointment oly at believe they want to do something with “There seems to still be a small vocal appeared to have fallen 501 W. South Broad St., Walhalla. By emailing ocplfriendssc@gmail. the property, and that’s why we want group of people against any sort of devel- around 10 feet. com. Masks and social distancing required. to annex it in. This (public hearing) is opment or use of other people’s property.” “There was nothing strictly about whether we annex it or Due to social distancing guidelines, critical about the inju- JAN. 27 whether we do not.” space for in-person attendance is limit- ry itself,” he said. OCONEE BOARD of Disabilities and Special Needs will meet at 9:30 The agenda for tonight’s meeting in- ed. Those wishing to attend the public Krein added the a.m. in the administration building at the Tribble Center. Open to the cludes 30 minutes for public comments, hearing without entering the building county EMS teams are general public. followed by 30 minutes for public ques- can listen to a broadcast of the meeting continuously trained tions and answers.