Duke Prepared to See 1M Outages from Winter Storm Downtown
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| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ON PAUSE T Vol. 117HE No. 34 JOURNALThursday, February 18, 2021 $100 Tigers’ game at T J Pittsburgh post- WEE MISS OCONEE: Pageants become ‘bonding experience’ for Seneca family. B1 poned due to WINTER WEATHER: Outages linger for millions as another icy storm looms. D1 COVID-19. C1 WEATHER Duke prepared to see 1M outages from winter storm Some outages could last ‘several days,’ official says BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR today based on the forecasted personnel throughout Duke THE JOURNAL storm track. Energy’s service area are “The storm comes on the prepared to respond as outages SENECA — Oconee Coun- heels of last weekend’s winter and emergencies occur.” ty residents could wake up storm, which caused signifi- At press time Wednesday, without power this morning, cant outages in the northern the National Weather Service depending on the local track of part of North Carolina, as forecast said lows could dip a winter storm that has merci- well as the Triad and Triangle down to 36 degrees with a high lessly crippled portions of the areas of the state,” company chance of rain showers in the country. spokesman Ryan Mosier said area of the Oconee County On Wednesday afternoon, in a release. “Duke Energy Regional Airport. Parts of ASSOCIATED PRESS Duke Energy announced it meteorologists continue to Oconee County were forecast- Jose Nives tries to shovel his way out after getting stuck in the middle was expecting there would be monitor weather conditions, ed to receive as much as three of the street on Wednesday in Austin, Texas. A Duke Energy official said 1 million power outages across and the company is making quarters of an inch of rain Wednesday that the winter storm that has crippled much of the South the Carolinas — “some lasting plans accordingly. Line techni- with snow, ice and plunging temperatures was also expected to cause several days” — beginning cians, service crews and other SEE STORM, PAGE A3 power outages across the Carolinas. SENECA CLEMSON Downtown Change in tradition reopening task force to meet BY GREG OLIVER “to listen,” but empha- THE JOURNAL sized that acting city administrator Andy CLEMSON — A Blondeau will be tak- 10-member Clemson ing the lead. Halfacre task force will hold its said the committee is first meeting Friday a diverse group that seeking to find ways to includes business own- balance safety of the ers, police, health and community with the emergency responders vitality of downtown and chamber represen- businesses hit hard tatives. by regulations enact- Blondeau could not ed as a result of the be reached for com- COVID-19 pandemic. ment, but Halfacre said Mayor Robert Hal- a recommendation facre said Wednesday will be developed to go that he has asked to sit on the committee SEE TASK FORCE, PAGE A5 CLEMSON LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL Father William Hearne drizzles ashes over Lynn Sexton at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church in Seneca on Ash Wednesday. Changes were made to traditional Ash Wednesday services because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Longtime Seneca Ash Wednesday rituals modified during pandemic chorus teacher BY LAUREN PIERCE this year,” Hearne said. “We’re try- state our soul is in and how we can THE JOURNAL ing to afford the opportunity for as improve that over the next 40 days many people to receive ashes by of- to prepare for the greatest feast in plans retirement SENECA — St. Paul the Apos- fering them the church tle Catholic Church began the before and calendar, BY GREG OLIVER McFarlane said the Lenten season this week with Ash after Mass ‘We like to say it’s a cross which is Eas- THE JOURNAL program is about the Wednesday services that included while people ter,” Hearne young men and wom- some changes to traditions made continually we bear, and bear willingly. said. SENECA — For more en whose exceptional necessary because of the COVID-19 come into Deacon than three decades, the talent pandemic. the sanctu- What is important is how we Tim Baker Seneca High School and hard Father William Hearne, pastor of ary.” said while choral program has work made the church, said the Vatican issued Hearne present ourselves to God and COVID-19 been recognized for its possible instructions on safely distributing wore a has been a consistency of excel- the success ashes at St. Paul’s in Seneca. face mask, how we try to live a deeper hindrance, lence due, in large part, enjoyed. “Instead of the traditional mark- cleansed his it also helps to longtime director “It has ing of the cross with ashes on hands and Christians Diane McFarlane. been an the forehead of each person, we either had and fuller life with him.’ to remem- But McFarlane has McFarlane honor will drizzle a few ashes over their people come ber what’s always been quick to to have heads,” Hearne said. to him or Tim Baker important. point out, even after served the community According to Hearne, this prac- went where St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church deacon “We deal announcing her retire- of Seneca and its young tice is evocative of the early church. they were with the hin- ment last week after 32 people,” McFarlane Distribution of ashes occurred without any physical contact. drances, we deal with the problems years at the school, that said. “I appreciate the before and after Mass, rather than “Ash Wednesday sets the season and use that to help us,” Baker said. any credit the program Seneca High School ad- within like previous years. for when we reflect on our own is given should instead “We’re trying to minimize contact spirituality, what state it’s in, what SEE RITUALS, PAGE A3 go to the students. SEE TEACHER, PAGE A5 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 Can CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D3 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D2 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 you demand Ford give COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 you a free truck? B5 To get ahead, get behind the wheel. The 2021 C 300 Coupe CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 School district reports 5 new COVID-19 cases Study for downtown Seneca WALHALLA — The School District of Oconee County said Wednesday that five people had tested restriping moving ahead positive for COVID-19 across the district the previous day. BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR whether Wednesday’s COVID-19 Two Westminster THE JOURNAL it will be COST BREAKDOWN Elementary students, a angled or Site survey $14,850 numbers at a glance Traffic study $20,000 Fair-Oak Elementary stu- SENECA — The Sene- parallel Confirmed Confirmed Percent Civil Site construction documents $12,000 dent, a West-Oak Middle ca Improvements Corpo- parking. cases deaths positive student and a Hamilton ration is moving forward The plan Required construction phase services $5,000-$10,000 Bidding and Negotiation (optional) $5,000 Career and Technology in securing a restriping will be South Carolina 655 50 9.1% Schematic streetscape design $4,500 Center employee tested plan for a significant submitted Schematic coordination with SCDOT $3,500 Oconee County 16 2 3.2%* positive on Tuesday, the amount of the main to the S.C. Other construction phase services Hourly or Pickens County 23 0 3.6%* district said. A 5-year- downtown thoroughfare. Depart- negotiated fee old kindergarten class The committee agreed ment of * Seven-day moving average at Fair-Oak Elementary to pay up to $55,000 for a Trans- Cumulative cases was moved Tuesday from design plan that would portation for approval, BYLAWS QUESTION face-to-face to distance affect downtown from with Moulder saying the Before the committee South Carolina: 429,494 cases, 7,248 deaths learning. shortly before Vincent entire process could take voted, city planning direc- Oconee County: 7,735 cases, 113 deaths When the school dis- Street to the Pro Custom up to six months. Any tor Ed Halbig questioned trict is made aware of a and Tire shop on West further work on the proj- whether it was appropri- Pickens County: 14,834 cases, 224 deaths positive case in an early North 1st Street, near ect will involve approval ate for the Seneca Im- childhood classroom, the the corner of North Pine from Seneca City Coun- provements Corporation SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL class is moved to distance Street. SeamonWhite- cil and public input. to fund the study when its learning for a period of side, a Greenville civil The study will be funded goal is to improve down- 10 days from when the engineering firm, will with money from the sale town buildings. The com- positive staff member or handle the study. of the Hometown Build- mittee shortly recessed to | CALENDAR | student was last in the “A lot of the design ing, which closed out at 11 have city finance director classroom. elements will encourage a.m. on Wednesday. Josh Riches review the TODAY — The Journal staff traffic calming and pro- Moulder said the city group’s bylaws and later OCL FRIENDS of the Library book sale in the Walhalla Library vide a safer environment netted $350,000 from the came back to consider it basement, 501 W. South Broad St., by appointment only at 12:30, for pedestrians,” city ad- sale. Seneca businessman as a “charitable donation” 1:30 or 2:30 p.m. Email [email protected]. Masks and social ministrator Scott Mould- Ray Murphy agreed to buy to the city.