'Absolutely Breathtaking'
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| PAGE LABEL EVEN | CLOSER TO T Vol. 117HE No. 102 JOURNALTuesday, May 25, 2021 $100 THE GOAL T J West-Oak one AT LONG LAST: Clemson native heading to Miss South Carolina pageant. B1 win away from ‘EAGER TO ENGAGE’: White House awaits GOP counteroffer on infrastructure. D1 State berth. C1 OCONEE COUNTY No citations issued for county mask ordinance Crenshaw says mandate created ‘a challenge at times’ BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR Council opted to end the and he thought officers were scenarios at the THE JOURNAL requirement before its were “all glad” it had county jail and other originally proposed date expired. instances where mask- WALHALLA — In its of May 30. The mask ordi- “It was a challenge at ing wasn’t an option. nine months on the books, nance allowed exemptions times,” he said. “Once the On several occasions at no citations were issued for those with a “medical county council went for- recent council meetings, against those in violation or behavioral condition” ward with the ordinance no action was ever taken of a temporary mask ordi- or religious beliefs. Any- inside county buildings, against members of the nance in facilities owned one violating the ordi- that was sometimes chal- public not wearing masks. and operated by Oconee nance had been subjected lenging — just making County, according to to a fine of at least $25, but sure we are abiding by ADMINISTRATOR TALKS Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. no more than $100. any council ordinance, OLD ORDINANCE JERRY BEARD | THE JOURNAL The ordinance that had On Monday morning, and there was some County administrator A woman wearing a mask walks out of the Oconee Coun- been in place since Au- Crenshaw told The Jour- circumstances where we Amanda Brock added she ty administrative building on Pine Street in Walhalla on gust expired last Wednes- nal the ordinance “did couldn’t wear it.” Monday. day after Oconee County create some challenges” Crenshaw added there SEE CITATIONS, PAGE A3 OCONEE SCHOOLS SENECA Thorsland happy with mask easing, ‘Absolutely breathtaking’ despite initial ire BY GREG OLIVER Thorsland made the THE JOURNAL comments last week to the coun- WALHALLA — ty school School District of board. Oconee County su- “I will perintendent Michael say that Thorsland recently Thursday, said while he was ini- when those tially frustrated by the changes timing of Gov. Henry Thorsland took place, McMaster’s executive we had a order making it option- lot of happy students al for masks to be worn and teachers, as well as in schools, he feels it staff members, for not has been a positive transition overall. SEE THORSLAND, PAGE A5 COVID-19 VACCINATIONS Prisma changes PHOTOS BY NORM CANNADA | THE JOURNAL Kaden Cox sits behind the wheel of his Jeep alongside his dad, Ken. Kaden recently got his driver’s license. vaccine schedule Community coming together to support teen losing hearing THE JOURNAL STAFF able at the Oconee site on Mondays, Wednes- BY NORM CANNADA SENECA — COVID-19 days and Fridays from THE JOURNAL Seated between his parents, vaccination schedules 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Other Dana and Ken, Kaden Cox at Oconee Memorial sites across the Prisma SENECA — At age 10, Kaden Cox looks over information on Hospital and other system, including the started his own checking account, his medical issues under the Prisma Health sites larger site at the former depositing money he earned mow- watchful eye of Seneca Mayor have changed begin- Kmart Plaza in Green- ing lawns. Five years later, he got a Dan Alexander, who works for ning this week. ville, are also changing job at a local fast-food restaurant. S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation. Vaccination appoint- Outside of work, he organized a ments are now avail- SEE PRISMA, PAGE A3 group of friends to WOULD YOU help with tornado LIKE TO HELP? relief in To help with Kaden’s Seneca medical costs, visit in April https://upstatetoday.com/ 2020, put hearing-aids-for-kaden/. together what is now a 230-member Jeep group and led a benefit effort to help an injured Oconee County sheriff’s deputy. But now Kaden has his own strug- gle. He is losing his hearing — very Kaden had a 35 percent hearing a second opinion with an audiolo- FILE quickly. loss. On April 26, another test gist in Greenville. The hearing loss The vaccination schedule at Prisma Health Oconee The problem was first noticed in showed the hearing loss had grown was 75 percent. Memorial Hospital is changing to three days a week September 2020 in a school hearing to 50 percent. On May 17, Kaden and starting this week. test. In November, a test showed his parents, Ken and Dana, went for SEE TEEN, 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 Keep an eye out in CLASSIFIEDS D3 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 the calendar. B5 People are talking... 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 TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 Attorney urges fairness from city Monday’s COVID-19 to Keowee Trail property owners numbers at a glance Confirmed Confirmed Percent BY GREG OLIVER “You can’t just take a third cases deaths positive THE JOURNAL of the property and wipe it out and it still be econom- South Carolina 210 6 3.3% CLEMSON — Green- ically viable. Otherwise, Oconee County 11 1 2.4%* ville attorney Rivers though, we want to work Stilwell made another to get something that’s Pickens County 10 0 1.7%* passionate plea to Clem- acceptable to the city and * Seven-day moving average son City Council recently to the property owner.” Cumulative cases for fairness in the devel- He added it won’t be opment of Keowee Trail, the last time he meets South Carolina: 490,638 cases, 8,534 deaths which he said is zoned for with council, promising Oconee County: 8,992 cases, 128 deaths student housing. to attend the upcoming As he told council during Uptown charrette, as well Pickens County: 17,176 cases, 262 deaths a public hearing in March, as planning commission multiple projects for Ke- JERRY BEARD | THE JOURNAL meetings. Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU occupancy owee Trail have been “shot The area of Keowee Trail near the Larry W. Abernathy “We want to build this Total ICU beds: 12 Beds occupied: 5 down,” including a bou- Waterfront Park has been the subject of much debate for and we want to cooperate tique hotel and two student Clemson officials. with the city to do it,” Beds occupied by COVID patients: 0 housing contracts — both Stilwell said. “But, again, SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL multi-million dollar deals. too severe a restriction cel all student housing? I’ve we ask you to be fair to us Prior to the moratorium and efforts are ongoing told them I think we have a as property owners, to let approved by council in to revise that amendment shot here. It’s going to be a us develop our property in January 2020, he said a even further, Stilwell said long process, but hopefully a reasonable fashion.” planned development had the developer of the latest not overly long. We’ve al- While Keowee Trail proj- | CALENDAR | been put together after project “is barely hanging ready taken an entire year ect proposals have involved years of effort for a student in there with me.” on the pause button.” student housing, those in WEDNESDAY housing development. “Even inside that zone, Unlike other catalyst opposition envision that OCONEE BOARD of Disabilities and Special Needs will meet at 9:30 Even in the midst of the all the other properties zones recommended by area for community gather- a.m. in the administration building at the Tribble Center, 116 South city’s moratorium, Stilwell developed, the property consultant Development ings, a possible arts district Cove Road, Seneca. Meetings are open to the general public. said a deal for a student my guys have is the last Strategies in its final report including a new home housing development sub- ones available for student for future long-term growth for the Arts Center, and OCONEE COUNTY Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans mitted last November and housing,” he said. “What for Clemson that he said other opportunities to take (DAV) will resume processing VA disability claims on Wednesdays set for approval encoun- I’m asking from you is to are controversial, Stilwell advantage of the Larry W. from 1-5 p.m. at 112 E. North 2nd St., in Seneca. Bring DD214, medi- tered another obstacle let us participate as your said the Keowee Trail site Abernathy Waterfront Park cal records and all VA correspondence. when council passed a process goes through, is suitable for student hous- and lake surrounding it. text amendment banning but also not make us wait ing. But Stilwell disagreed Stilwell’s comments new mixed-use buildings, until the end of the year. with the final report that were made during pub- multi-family buildings and Give us a fair chance. he said has a third of the lic comment of the city town homes as a permitted “My people ask me if this property on Keowee Trail council meeting. Council Exceeding Expectations with use anywhere in the city. is a bridge to nowhere — is designated as greenspace. typically does not respond While council has since this a fake opportunity “That’s not a reasonable to comments made during Prompt, Accurate, Courteous Service admitted that a ban was where they’re going to can- expectation,” Stilwell said.