| PAGE LABEL EVEN | BOBCATS BALL T Vol. 117HE No. 19 JOURNALWednesday, January 27, 2021 $100 Seneca hoops T J squads sweep FINDING ‘FOREVER’: Humane Society offers companionship, free pet food. B1 county foe SHOW GOES ON: GOP largely votes against holding Trump impeachment trial. D1 West-Oak. C1 OCONEE COUNTY Sewer authority rate hike off the table — for now BY NORM CANNADA for Monday’s meeting of increase on the cities of yet, and I think it’s dif- Moulder said he THE JOURNAL the full board. The com- Seneca, Westminster and ficult for me and at least believes the spending ‘We need more mittee asked executive Walhalla that the Seneca reps (on the increases are due to SENECA — A planned director Chris Eleazer to was sched- board) to actually approve maintenance and capital definitive reasons vote on a proposed 20 per- provide detailed informa- uled to come a rate increase when we expenses on a system, cent rate increase for the tion about why expenses up at Mon- haven’t even seen a budget much of which is 40 years as to why we’re Oconee Joint Regional have grown significantly day’s board yet. I would understand if old. Sewer Authority is off the in recent years. meeting. we presented the budget “I think it’s great that going to need table — at least tempo- Board chairman Scott “I was a lit- and after that we went we’re finally investing in rarily. Moulder is not on the tle caught off through cuts and every- the system to make sure The OJRSA’s Finance committee, but was on Moulder guard by the thing else and looked it’s got a longer life, but more money.’ and Administration the agenda to speak flat 20 percent at all the options, then we haven’t seen any type Committee voted unani- at Monday’s meeting. rate increase,” Moulder looked at a 20 percent rate of capital improvement Scott Moulder mously this week to take He expressed concern told the committee. “We increase (and said) ‘Yeah, Oconee Joint Regional Sewer the vote off the agenda about the proposed rate haven’t even seen a budget I think that’s fine.’” SEE HIKE, PAGE A3 Authority board chairman OCONEE COUNTY SENECA 2021 another ‘holding pattern’ A taste for court system? of Solicitor updates status of spring major local criminal cases BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR minster man pleading THE JOURNAL guilty to charges stem- ming from a shooting last WALHALLA — For year. nearly a year throughout “With no South Carolina, in-person trials, except court proceedings have a handful in experienced periods of no the fall, we’re jury trials or extremely still in a hold- limited activity due to the ing pattern,” COVID-19 pandemic. Wagner said. As recently as Jan. Wagner “I can’t really 11, S.C. Supreme Court tell you which Chief Justice Donald one (case) I’d pick over the Beatty ordered in-person others (to get to). We’ve proceedings of circuit, got a number that we want family, probate and sum- to get to.” mary courts to halt unless Jury trials were first certain cases met limited postponed in mid-March, exceptions. creating the “holding n unexpected burst of spring on a late January day gave local residents the chance to Even with the restric- pattern” Wagner often get outside for a little fun and relaxation on Tuesday. Top: Liz Oswald of Seneca plays tions placed on courts, refers to. A plan to resume with her 4-year-old grandson, Matias Odorigio of Greenville, at the Shaver Recreation 10th Judicial Circuit in-person trials in Octo- Complex in Seneca. Above left: Sam Pierce, left, helps 3-year-old Leah Simpson with Solicitor David Wagner’s ber had been approved in A a piece of pizza as 10-month-old Braelyn Holbrooks sleeps and Brandon Holbrooks watches team of prosecutors has Oconee County, but it was several criminal cases in eventually stopped again during a family picnic. Above right: 2-year-old Raelyn Patterson, left, plays with 1-year-old Oconee County to work over Beatty’s concerns Khloe as grandfather Brad Smith of Seneca watches. Temperatures aren’t expected to be as through — one of which warm today, but should reach the mid-50s, offering another day’s reprieve from winter. To recently involved a West- SEE COURT, PAGE A3 see the full five-day forecast, turn to page A2. PHOTOS BY NORM CANNADA | THE JOURNAL WESTMINSTER Westminster City Council uses workshop to set priorities Jeff Shack- BY BRIAN GRAVES minster Depot, facilita- ing the negative public during the course of er of the THE JOURNAL tor Jeff Shacker of the relations and image of the year — did you do Municipal Municipal Association the city and assessing them or not do them?” Associ- WESTMINSTER of South Carolina its needs in concern- Mayor pro tem ation of — Westminster City was able to finalize ing the city’s work- Danny Duncan started South Car- Council fleshed out the issue rankings to force. the group off with the olina fields a list of more than a the council members “The whole goal of issue that eventually comments dozen items needed of the top “must do” this thing is you have placed No. 1 on the from West- by the city and devel- items — with revenue a work plan to work final priority list. minster oped three condensed enhancement and a on for the next year or “For me personally, officials lists of what the city complete assessment two,” explained Shack- creating revenue is during a should do, must do and of water and sewer er. “I am going to try high on my priority workshop could do at a lengthy systems with needed to figure out the initial list,” Duncan said. “If on Tuesday meeting Tuesday after- improvement and steps for that so I can you have created rev- afternoon. noon. upgrades as the top write it up that way enue coming through BRIAN GRAVES | During a three-hour priorities, followed by while you prioritize it. THE JOURNAL workshop at the West- a tie between address- Then you will know SEE PRIORITIES, PAGE A3 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A5 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 Their CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D4 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 job is to represent us — COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 their constituents. B5 Seasonal Lake Views 3 BR, 2.5 BA, 2 Car Garage Bright, Spacious, Open Floor-plan Large Deck & Covered Patio w Lake Views Amenity Rich Keowee Key Subdivision melaniefink.com | 303 Rochester Hwy, Seneca | 864-888-3211 Priced at $499,000 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 Two beds available at Oconee hospital ICU as of Monday Oconee jobless claims reach night, officials say SENECA — There were two beds avail- Tuesday’s COVID-19 able in the intensive highest point since mid-July care unit at Prisma numbers at a glance Health Oconee Me- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR ed to temporary holiday season jobs. For Confirmed Confirmed Percent morial Hospital late THE JOURNAL the weeks ending Jan. 2 and Jan. 9, there cases deaths positive Monday night, ac- were 360 and 173 unemployment claims in cording to numbers SENECA — Unemployment claims in Oconee County, respectively. South Carolina 1,993 24 21.7% updated by the S.C. Oconee County reached their highest Last weekend, DEW surpassed the $5 Oconee County 28 0 34.7%* Department of Health number since mid-July last week. billion mark in paying out benefits since and Environmental A total of 420 claims were filed for the the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the Unit- Pickens County 40 0 28.6%* Control (DHEC). week ending Jan. 16, according to the ed States last March. Benefits have been * Seven-day moving average DHEC reported 10 S.C. Department of Employment and paid out through nine state and federal of the 12 hospital’s Workforce’s (DEW) weekly job report. programs, according to DEW media rela- Cumulative cases listed ICU beds were That tally is the second highest in the tions specialist Heather Biance. South Carolina: 381,812 cases, 5,944 deaths occupied, with seven Upstate, behind Greenville County at 589 Several of those programs were ex- Oconee County: 6,985 cases, 81 deaths of those beds being for the same week. Greenville ranked the tended again this month after Congress used by COVID-19 highest in the state, just slightly ahead passed more COVID-19 relief in Decem- Pickens County: 13,536 cases, 178 deaths patients at 11:59 p.m. of Horry County at 580. More than 12,500 ber, shortly after programs had expired. Monday. unemployment claims have been filed in “While the program names and benefit SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL There were eight Oconee County since March 21. amounts are the same, the technicality of patients on venti- Oconee County boasted a 3.2 percent implementing these programs is extreme- lators at the time unemployment rate in November, and ly complex, and the federal government of the report, with DEW should be releasing the December did not pass legislation until after the | CALENDAR | seven of the patients jobs report soon. That unemployment CARES Act programs expired,” DEW COVID-19 positive. rate tally put Oconee just behind Saluda executive director Dan Ellzey said in a re- TODAY There were 10 venti- and Lexington counties for the lowest in lease issued last week. “Our staff worked OCONEE BOARD of Disabilities and Special Needs will meet at 9:30 lators available at the the state.