Council Declines to Release Report on Allegations School Officials Remember Teen Killed in Wreck
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
| PAGE LABEL EVEN | FALLOUT CONTINUES T Vol. 116HE No. 331 JOURNALTuesday, November 24, 2020 $100 Tigers’ Swinney T J slams FSU after COMPLEX HISTORY: Thanksgiving lessons jettison Pilgrim hats, welcome truth. B1 Saturday game TRANSITION GREEN LIGHT: Government recognizes Biden as president-elect. D1 postponed. C1 OCONEE COUNTY Council declines to release report on allegations hike in ISO ratings, but Rogers said the county’s county administrator decision to not release ‘This report is Investigation into misconduct claims at Amanda Brock said she the report “gives the didn’t think there should public the idea there is a a public record fire department cost county more than $6K be any concern. Late last coverup.” month, Brock said the “This report is a public and was paid for county’s new ISO data record and was paid for BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR quest for any paperwork investigation in April, as had been completed, was with public funds,” Rog- with public funds. THE JOURNAL relating to the investiga- well as uneasiness inside under review and could ers added. “A public re- tion into the Oconee take up to six months to cord cannot be withheld A public record WALHALLA — Oconee allegations Coun- finalize. in its entirety. They can County Council opted to of sexual ty Fire After executive session redact protected details.” OUR VIEW cannot be withheld leave the results of an in- harass- Commis- at last week’s meeting, TO READ A RELATED vestigation of misconduct ment and sion over county attorney David COUNCIL SPEAKS EDITORIAL, TURN in its entirety. at the Westminster Fire miscon- not being Root asked county coun- Even with the opportu- TO PAGE A4. Department in purgatory duct involved in cil if there was a motion nity to release the report and not release the final against a the process to waive an attorney-cli- heavily redacted, every They can redact report — redacted or top West- through ent exemption to release member of council was otherwise. minster firefighter. The emails released by the the report — in any form. nearly unanimous in protected details.’ In late August, The Journal later reported county. Separate emails No motion was made. saying they felt it wasn’t Journal filed a Freedom on the county spending also expressed concern S.C. Press Association Bill Rogers of Information Act re- more than $6,000 on the over the possibility of a executive director Bill SEE REPORT, PAGE A3 S.C. Press Association director SENECA WESTMINSTER School officials remember teen killed in wreck Kimberly Boyzo 1 of 2 who Last died in crash Friday night BY GREG OLIVER and Karen Guerrero, 23, THE JOURNAL of Central, were killed in a two-vehicle collision chance WESTMINSTER — Friday night. West-Oak High School and Oconee Coun- School District of Oconee ty Coroner County officials Monday Karl Addis remembered Kimberly said the pair Boyzo as a person who died from was very involved in her blunt force school. trauma inju- “Kimberly was manager Boyzo ries. ASSOCIATED PRESS for our basketball team, South Caro- University of Utah student Abigail Shull takes a rapid COVID-19 test last week in Salt Lake City. As college stu- and she participated in lina Highway Patrol Mas- dents prepare to go home for the holidays, some schools are quickly ramping up COVID-19 testing to try to keep the production of the year- ter Trooper Brandon Bolt infections from spreading further as the coronavirus surges across the U.S. book,” West-Oak principal said the collision occurred Brandon Blackwell said. Final free COVID-19 testing before Thanksgiving is today Boyzo, 16, of Seneca, SEE TEEN, PAGE A3 BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR THE JOURNAL Oconee County COVID-19 cases per day SENECA SENECA — Local residents have one last chance today to get a free COVID-19 test in Seneca ahead of Thanksgiving. Group set to provide South Carolina Department Probable cases of Health and Environmental Confirmed cases Control (DHEC) officials will be 7-day moving average at the Seneca Health Department Thanksgiving meals at 609 N. Townville St. from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. today. Today is the 30.86 BY GREG OLIVER of the downtown Seneca final chance to be tested by DHEC THE JOURNAL area, Feed the 400 was es- before the holiday. DHEC recom- tablished. Meals in to-go mends getting tested ahead of any SENECA — The annu- boxes will be served from gathering to abide by COVID-19 al Feed the 5000 event 1-3 p.m. Thursday in front safety protocols. won’t be taking place on of the Shaver Recreation “While we take time to reflect Thanksgiving for the first Complex in Seneca. on all that we have to be thankful time in 27 years. Boone said she wanted for, including our family, friends However, another local to do something after and loved ones, let’s remember organization is working learning that Feed the that the actions we take today to ensure a meal will be 5000 would be unable could determine our ability to provided to those in need to hold its traditional come together to celebrate hol- SOURCE: HTTPS://SCDHEC.GOV/COVID19/SOUTH-CAROLINA-COUNTY-LEVEL-DATA-COVID-19 Thursday. Thanksgiving meal due to idays and family gatherings in Through the efforts of the COVID-19 pandemic. the future,” DHEC chief medical cases recorded in Oconee County in a high two-week cumulative Helping Hands of Oconee, “There was a group of officer Dr. Michael J. Kacka said the past two weeks, according incidence rate, as do a majority created by Kellie Boone us that started talking to last week. to DHEC data — an increase of following the April tor- There have been 400 confirmed 143 cases. The county remains SEE TESTING, PAGE A3 nado that ravaged parts SEE MEALS, PAGE A5 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 Get your CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 news somewhere other COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 than social media. B6 Add a Mercedes-Benz to your wish list during the Winter Event. CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020 | CALENDAR | Westminster food giveaway today TODAY SENECA LIONS Club will meet BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR model and remain in their car. There at Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe for THE JOURNAL is a limit on the number of boxes a car dinner at 6 p.m. and business can received. meeting at 6:30 p.m. Guest speak- WESTMINSTER — A Farmers to Last month, more than 1,000 boxes of er will be Charles Caudill, Seneca Families food box distribution is set food were given to the group for distri- City fire chief. Monday’s COVID-19 to happen this morning and last until bution to those in need, causing cars to supplies are exhausted. line downtown Westminster for hours. WEDNESDAY numbers at a glance Oconee County First Steps executive Oconee County First Steps received the PENDLETON ELKS Lodge 2861 Confirmed Confirmed Percent poinsettia fundraiser. $12 each. director Daby Snipes issued a release boxes — weighing 42 pounds each and cases deaths positive this week saying food boxes will be filled with meats, dairy products and pro- Choose from red, white and handed out today from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. duce — from the Trump administration pink. Curbside pickup at Mt. Zion South Carolina 1,095 5 10.7% outside the Westminster Depot. Volun- after it enacted the Farmers to Families Presbyterian Church Dec. 5, 10 Oconee County 16 0 17.6%* teers are required to wear a mask and Food Box Program. At the time, Snipes a.m.-noon and Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m. gloves during the event. Those picking said she was hoping another event would Must purchase be Nov. 25. Pickens County 54 0 21.1%* up boxes will do so in a drive-thru happen again close to Thanksgiving. * Seven-day moving average NOT MEETING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE – DAV veterans advocates Cumulative cases Terry Neale, Michael Brown or South Carolina: 194,902 cases, 3,987 deaths Mike O’Shields will be at the Oconee County: 3,011 cases, 37 deaths Road to be closed for water line repair Knights of Columbus meeting hall, 112 E. North 2nd St., Seneca, from Pickens County: 5,819 cases, 73 deaths THE JOURNAL STAFF Seneca Light and Water. location before it gets 1-5 p.m. to assist veterans with VA Seneca utilities direc- out of hand.” benefits. SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SENECA — Hitec Road tor Bob Faires said Fatz is scheduled to be closed Café would likely be the to through traffic this only business affected by morning as Seneca Light the work, and the repairs Proudly Serving and Water workers repair will take care of issues to a water main line near the prevent customers from Seneca For intersection of Hitec and having problems. U.S. Highway 123. “The issue is not pres- 28 Years! The work is expected to ently causing any outag- be going on from 7 a.m. es,” Faires said. “Every- to noon, according to a one has water. This is a news release issued by repair required at a valve SENECA Westminster magistrate OPTICAL court closed for the week We Are Honored To Have Been Voted BEST OPTICAL STORE and THE JOURNAL STAFF firmed the exposure and said it is county protocol to WESTMINSTER — close for a precautionary BEST OPTOMETRIST OFFICE The magistrate court in measure.