| PAGE LABEL EVEN | A WIN AWAY T Vol. 117HE No. 97 JOURNALTuesday, May 18, 2021 $100 Seneca, West-Oak T J squads set to ‘ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY’: Clemson Heritage offers ‘personable’ senior care. B1 host district title CONCERN IN DC?: Biden expresses support for cease-fire in Netanyahu call. D1 games Friday. C1 WALHALLA Walhalla residents speak out against box stores BY LAUREN PIERCE accepting and issuing permits, ing between city council and the do we go from here? We need to “Let the planning commission THE JOURNAL business licenses and land de- city’s planning commission and rethink what we said,’ because and the city council know what velopment applications. was moderated by Chip Bentley, if you do a plan, you should re- your thoughts are on this issue, WALHALLA — Walhalla City The ordinance came after deputy director of the Appala- view it often, because you never because it will help long term,” Council held a listening session several residents and business chian Council of Governments. know what’s going to change.” he told residents in attendance. Monday night to hear concerns owners voiced concerns in Feb- “You’re at a crossroads that Bentley said the session was and feedback from its residents on ruary about a rumored Dollar a lot of communities are at,” an opportunity for people “to CONCERNED RESIDENTS zoning and the future of the city. General coming to Main Street Bentley told city officials and give feedback on what they About 30 residents attended In March, city council passed in downtown Walhalla. residents in attendance. “It’s a would like to see” and where the a six-month moratorium on The session was a joint meet- natural time to think, ‘OK, how city “should go from here.” SEE WALHALLA, PAGE A3 CLEMSON OCONEE COUNTY Man charged with firing Moulder: Sewer authority budget rifle outside Clemson bar not fair to Seneca BY NORM CANNADA the sewer authority’s THE JOURNAL board chairman, was invited by SENECA — Saying OJRSA his city would be pay- executive ing the “lion’s share” of director a rate increase on the Chris three member cities, Eleazer to Seneca city adminis- Monday’s trator Scott Moulder monthly argued Monday chang- Moulder meeting of es should be made in the sewer the Oconee County board’s finance and Joint Regional Sewer administration com- Authority’s proposed mittee. Moulder had 2021-22 budget. Moulder, who is also SEE BUDGET, PAGE A5 OCONEE COUNTY Range of county RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL Police said a man arrested after a shooting outside Backstreets Pub and Grill in downtown Clemson on Saturday told business on tap at officers he was in the National Guard. Police: Man claimed to be in National Guard after arrest meeting tonight BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR of alcohol. Ortiz was released from report. A Backstreets employee BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR all facilities owned and AND LAUREN PIERCE the Clemson City Jail declined to comment to The Journal THE JOURNAL operated by the county. THE JOURNAL on Sunday with a $2,000 about the incident when reached by personal recognizance phone Monday. WALHALLA — A FIRST COUNTY CLEMSON — A Pendleton man bond and is scheduled Multiple witnesses told police a litany of business is up BUDGET READING who claimed he was enlisted in the to appear for a hearing man pointed a rifle out of his vehi- for discussion in Wal- The proposed bud- National Guard was arrested over at the Pickens County cle several times, the report said. halla tonight, including get that includes a 3 the weekend after police said he Courthouse on June 24. One witness told police Ortiz fired Oconee County Council percent cost-of-living fired gunshots out of his vehicle out- Police responded to up to 10 shots in the air. taking a first vote on its adjustment raise for side a bar in downtown Clemson. Ortiz Backstreets Pub and The report said an officer saw upcoming fiscal year nearly all county em- Junior Estuardo Ortiz, 25, of Grill on Earle Street at the suspected car coming out of budget and a final de- ployees will receive a Lakewood Drive, was charged with approximately 10:47 p.m. Saturday cision on ending a face use of a firearm under the influence night, according to an incident SEE ARREST, PAGE A3 covering mandate for SEE COUNTY, PAGE A5 OCONEE COUNTY Oconee County cities contracting for public defender services BY NORM CANNADA Westminster and Seneca mended adoption of the cases or others where the THE JOURNAL approved agreements agreement that will pay punishment is a fine. ‘It’s a situation that we really need last week with the 10th the public defender’s office Both agreed the avail- WESTMINSTER — Judicial Circuit Public $2,067 over the next year. ability of a public defend- to fix before we find ourselves facing Municipalities in Oconee Defender’s Office, while Holliday said the city is er may encourage more County are turning to the Walhalla is working on a required to provide a pub- defendants to ask for a some sort of lawsuit for denying a right local public defender’s office similar agreement. lic defender for people in lawyer. to provide legal represen- Westminster city attor- city cases where jail time “There will probably be to counsel to a criminal defendant.’ tation for those arrested on ney Andrew Holliday and is a possible sentence. an increase in the number city charges who can’t af- city administrator Kevin Public defenders would Andrew Holliday ford to pay for an attorney. Bronson recently recom- not be available for traffic SEE DEFENDER, PAGE A5 Westminster city attorney | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 Thank you for your CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARY B2 WORLD | NATION D1 wise words. B5 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021 | CALENDAR | City considering annexation TODAY POWERFUL CLUB of Toast- masters International will meet via Zoom at 6 p.m. Individuals stipulation for utility customers interested in improving their communication and leadership BY NORM CANNADA al an “annexation extension policy” and skills welcome. For a Zoom THE JOURNAL said the city had it in place for several link, call (864) 944-5735. Monday’s COVID-19 years through 2015. Those living out- WESTMINSTER — New Westminster side the city would be required to sign a WEDNESDAY numbers at a glance utility customers living outside the city document agreeing to be annexed into OCONEE COUNTY Chapter Confirmed Confirmed Percent are now required, if requested, to agree the city if council chose to do so “once of the Disabled American Vet- cases deaths positive to be annexed into city limits to receive that property becomes contiguous to city erans (DAV) will resume pro- certain city services. boundaries,” according to the ordinance. cessing VA disability claims on South Carolina 229 1 3.5% City council unanimously approved Bronson said the policy is similar to Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. at Oconee County 4 0 3.4%* the final reading last week of an ordi- what other municipalities, including 112 E. North 2nd St., in Seneca. Pickens County 12 0 3.2%* nance city administrator Kevin Bronson Seneca, have on the books. He said the Bring DD214, medical records said would allow the city to annex the policy could help the city bring down and all VA correspondence. * Seven-day moving average properties once they were eligible to be property taxes while providing essential Cumulative cases annexed. The ordinance applies to those services. THURSDAY receiving water, sewer and/or electric “This is a tool that allows you to do OCPL FRIENDS of the Library South Carolina: 489,047 cases, 8,500 deaths service from the city. The ordinance that, so that the general government book sale every Thursday in Oconee County: 8,950 cases, 127 deaths doesn’t affect customers who had utility activities that we have — like police, fire, the Walhalla Library basement services and lived outside the city before code enforcement and even some of the from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. No Pickens County: 17,114 cases, 261 deaths the ordinance was passed. recreation — are spread over more prop- more than nine customers at a Last month, Bronson called the propos- erty and more property owners,” he said. time. Masks will be required. Oconee Memorial Hospital ICU occupancy Total ICU beds: 12 Beds occupied: 7 SATURDAY THE AMERICAN Christian Beds occupied by COVID patients: 1 Walhalla City Council Lipchik of Backwater works system, an ordinance Fiction Writers’ South Carolina SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL set to meet tonight Landing, grant approval to incorporate fee struc- Chapter will meet at 2 p.m. at for Oconee County Histo- ture into the current fiscal North Anderson Baptist Church, WALHALLA — Walhal- ry Museum and a discus- year budget, an ordinance 2308 N. Main St., Anderson. la City Council is set to sion to upload/stream gov- governing garbage, trash Visitors, as well as members, Monday wreck closes hospital, according to a meet at City Hall tonight. ernment meetings online, and refuse to update fee are invited to bring manuscripts lanes on Interstate 85 South Carolina Highway The meeting will begin according to the agenda. structure, an ordinance to of up to 1,000 words for a free Patrol trooper and dis- at 5:30 p.m. with an execu- A final reading to amend establish a franchise fee critique to the meetings.