| PAGE LABEL EVEN | ‘NOT MUCH T Vol. 117HE No. 42 JOURNALTuesday, March 2, 2021 $100 TO SAY’ T J Swinney talks AT A DISTANCE: Glam back at annual Golden Globes, albeit virtually. B1 about Kendrick’s PLEA FOR HELP: Countries urge drug companies to share vaccine know-how. D1 departure. C1 CLEMSON Clemson businesses react to governor’s decision As of Monday, restaurants “Lifting the 11 p.m. alcohol an effort on the part of the busi- and bars are now able to sell curfew will have a strong impact ness owners, or most anyway, to McMaster announced end of some alcohol after 11 p.m. again, and on downtown, but, of course, abide by the guidelines.” event organizers no longer have they will still be held to the city’s Cohen also said the realiza- COVID-19 safety measures Friday to secure permits for groups of mask ordinance,” Clemson Area tion was made recently that more than 250 people, according Chamber of Commerce pres- the restrictions in Clemson to McMaster’s announcement. ident Susan Cohen said. “We, were simply driving students to BY GREG OLIVER terminate COVID-19 safety mea- State health officials said peo- the chamber and the hospital- travel to nearby schools or other THE JOURNAL sures over the sale of alcohol ple should still practice social ity industry maintain that the cities or states. and mass gatherings was greet- distancing and wear face cov- students and the community as a Cohen said safety precautions CLEMSON — Gov. Henry ed with a “wait and see” attitude erings, along with other safety whole are safer with the later bar McMaster’s decision Friday to from Clemson businesses. precautions. hours. At least we know there is SEE BUSINESSES, PAGE A4 WALHALLA SENECA Moratorium on Walhalla agenda Not done yet BY NORM CANNADA zoning ordinance are THE JOURNAL discussed. First reading is WALHALLA — Wal- scheduled during a halla City Council is council meeting begin- scheduled to consider ning at 5:30 p.m. at the an ordinance tonight Walhalla Depot. The that would impose a meeting is open to the four-month morato- public. rium on permits and The measure would business licenses for require two readings “small box discount approved by council, stores” while amend- ments to the city’s SEE MORATORIUM, PAGE A2 OCONEE COUNTY Council to vote on demolition for magistrate office BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR & Jenkins LLC will THE JOURNAL address council early in tonight’s meeting, WALHALLA — which is scheduled to Oconee County Council begin at 6 p.m. is set to meet tonight “We are pleased. We and receive a presen- had no findings and we tation on a comprehen- have handled taxpayer sive annual financial fiscal responsibility report, vote on demol- as well as possible,” ishing an old church county administrator to begin work on a new Amanda Brock said. eneca High School boys’ basketball coach Kevin Padgett, front, hugs junior E.J. magistrate’s building “We do receive the Evett following the Bobcats’ 82-75 victory over Keenan in the Class 3A Upper and approve a hefty General Government State championship game Saturday at Dorman High School in Roebuck. The win amount of roadwork at Financial Officers clinched the Bobcats’ first-ever appearance in a State championship game, as the F.A.R.M. Center. Award for 13 or 14 S David Irwin of ac- they’ll now get set to face Marlboro County for the Class 3A crown on Thursday after- counting firm Mauldin SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A2 noon in Aiken. For more on the Bobcats’ historic win, turn to page C1. CALEB KELLY | FOR THE JOURNAL OCONEE COUNTY Deputy Jimmy Dixon, left, joined the Oconee County Crenshaw brings on former local chief Sheriff’s Office to work for BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR the force as a part-time ac- “Jimmy and I had a con- the best practices in law Sheriff Mike THE JOURNAL creditation manager, with versation after he retired. enforcement. … He is very Crenshaw earli- plans to shift into another … I had been wanting to familiar with the process er this month. WALHALLA — A long- department in the future. go forward with becoming and what’s needed.” Dixon served time local police chief has Dixon retired in January an accredited law enforce- Dixon began last week as chief of the come out of retirement to 2020 after serving as the ment agency,” Sheriff Mike and will work three days Clemson Police join the Oconee County chief of the Clemson Police Crenshaw told The Jour- a week, Crenshaw said. Department for Sheriff’s Office in its work Department for 17 years. nal this week. “I think the Retirement didn’t last nearly 18 years. to become a state-accredit- He had spent 24 of his 42 time is right for us to take long for Dixon, and if it SPECIAL TO ed law enforcement agency. years in law enforcement that next step, even though THE JOURNAL Jimmy Dixon has joined with the city. I feel like we’re utilizing SEE CRENSHAW, PAGE A4 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B3 SPORTS C1 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 I don’t think you COLUMNISTS B2 OBITUARIES B4 TELL WILLIE A4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 COMICS B2 OPINION A3 WORLD | NATION D1 understand. A4 Advanced. Appealing. Attainable. The 2021 A 220 Sedan CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com 2446 Laurens Road (864) 213-8000 Greenville, SC 29607 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 to Padgett Street in the home for two or three days Utica mill hill community at a time before returning. the evening of Feb. 15 in Spearman had been Missing man found response to a missing per- entered as missing in the son, according to a news National Crime Informa- THE JOURNAL STAFF Sheriff’s Office an- release from the Oconee tion Center database, and nounced Saturday morn- County Sheriff’s Office. investigators from the Monday’s COVID-19 SENECA — A Seneca ing that Michael Lewis The homeowner at the sheriff’s office’s Criminal numbers at a glance man missing since Feb. 13 Spearman was located address on Spearman Investigations Division has been found safe. and OK. Drive told police Spear- followed leads about his Confirmed Confirmed Percent The Oconee County Deputies were called man was known to leave possible location. cases deaths positive South Carolina 740 14 4.1% Oconee County 15 0 1.9%* Pickens County 26 0 2.8%* MORATORIUM: Covers ‘small box’ stores * Seven-day moving average Cumulative cases FROM PAGE A1 along with the city’s comprehensive consideration as to how we would plan and downtown development actually like to see our downtown South Carolina: 444,991 cases, 7,592 deaths but city administrator Brent Taylor plan(s) with the planning commis- grow,” she said. Oconee County: 7,962 cases, 118 deaths said the moratorium would essen- sion and consider any “adjustments Mayor Danny Edwards said Mon- Pickens County: 15,408 cases, 234 deaths tially be in effect if approved on to city codes and regulations.” Pub- day night the proposed ordinance first reading while zoning changes lic hearings would also be a part of gives the city the opportunity to SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL are being considered. the process to get public input. hear from any interested parties. The proposed moratorium defines The four-month moratorium could “We had a lot of people express “small box discount stores” as “stores be extended as needed, according to their opinion about what was going that have a floor area of less than the draft ordinance. on downtown,” Edwards said of No beds open at There were seven 10,000 square feet and sell a variety The proposed ordinance comes the concerns expressed at the Feb. Oconee Memorial ICU patients on ventilators of home and personal goods, food and before council two weeks after more 16 meeting. “What we are going to at the time of the report, beverages, but do not sell gasoline or than half a dozen residents ex- consider is having a moratorium on late Sunday night with five of the patients have a prescription pharmacy.” pressed concerns about a rumored certain types of businesses, which SENECA — There COVID-19 positive. The proposed ordinance would Dollar General potentially being will allow us to meet with citi- were no beds available in There were 11 venti- place a four-month moratorium that built on Main Street. zens and businesses and property the intensive care unit lators available at the would temporarily suspend “the Businesswoman Lana Justice owners and get a better feel of what at Prisma Health Oconee time. acceptance and/or issuance of any urged council “to consider a pause folks want downtown.” Memorial Hospital late Of the 78 hospital permits, business licenses, land to be placed on this type of develop- Taylor said if the ordinance is Sunday night, according beds occupied, 11 were development applications for new ment.” approved, it would be referred to the to numbers updated by filled by patients with development of discount stores.” “A pause will afford council planning commission. the S.C. Department of COVID-19. There were During that time council would and the community time to work Health and Environmen- 98 beds available at the review the city’s zoning ordinance together for discussion and careful [email protected] | (864) 973-6680 tal Control (DHEC). time of the update. DHEC reported all 12 of Hospital bed informa- the hospital’s listed ICU tion can be found online beds were occupied, with at scdhec.gov/covid19/ half of those beds occu- hospital-bed-capaci- COUNCIL: FARM Center work on budget pied by COVID-19 patients, ty-covid-19.