| PAGE LABEL EVEN | TRENCH WARFARE T Vol. 116HE No. 349 JOURNALFriday, December 18, 2020 $100 Tigers’ Swinney says title game SNOW DAYS, VIRTUAL OPERA: The office holiday party goes on. B1 will be won ANOTHER SHOT: Second COVID-19 vaccine gets FDA panel’s endorsement. D1 up front. C1 WALHALLA Community remembers civic leader, ‘political force’ Duke BY NORM CANNADA force in the Democratic retirement in 1989. She THE JOURNAL Party and a dedicated ‘Oconee was fortunate that also served on the Oconee educator,” State Rep. Bill County School Board, WALHALLA — Maxie Whitmire of Walhalla this lady from Highlands chose as well as the S.C. State Duke is remembered for said. “She was never shy School Board, according her tenacity and com- about expressing her to her son, Hal Duke. mitment as an educator, opinion on important to make Walhalla her home.’ She was active in the longtime Democratic issues and will long be local and state Democrat- Party leader and one of remembered for her role Bill Whitmire ic Party for decades and several responsible for the in rescuing the Walhalla State representative held leadership positions restoration of an old high Civic Auditorium from at both levels, including school auditorium into a demolition. Oconee was serving as chair of the thriving arts center. fortunate that this lady “She was so involved beliefs. I am just saddened county party. Duke died in her Wal- from Highlands chose in civic programs, and by her passing.” “Maxie was just a matri- halla home on Wednesday. to make Walhalla her certainly the Democratic Duke taught in the arch of the Oconee County SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL She was 93. home.” Party,” he said. “While we School District of Oconee Democratic Party,” party Former Oconee County “When I remember State Sen. Thomas were on opposite sides, I County for a total of 18 chair Jody Gaulin said. Democratic Party chair Maxie Duke, I think of a Alexander called Duke “a certainly had apprecia- years, including stints at “She was past chairman Maxie Duke died Wednes- lady who was a civic lead- lady who cared about her tion and great respect for both Oakway and Walhal- day at age 93. er in Walhalla, a political community.” her commitment to her la high schools, before her SEE DUKE, PAGE A5 CENTRAL OCONEE COUNTY Wreath-laying event planned to honor veterans Coming in low BY LAUREN PIERCE to honor veterans Airport could THE JOURNAL interred at Central cemeteries for National CENTRAL — The Wreaths Across Amer- see nearly $1M 2020 holidays have ica Day. The opening been a season of reflec- event will begin at tion and noon at revenue drop, strength. Mount In the Zion finish in the red spirit Cem- of this etery, reflec- located by $125K for tion, it’s on West import- Main ant to Street in fiscal year remem- Pickens. ber and Event BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR honor coordi- THE JOURNAL veterans nator who are no longer with Ann Warmuth said SENECA — Back in Janu- us this Christmastime. the event is free and ary, it’s safe to say no local Hundreds of live bal- open to all people. All government official could sam veterans’ wreaths have predicted what was will be laid Saturday SEE EVENT, PAGE A3 ahead for the year. PHOTOS BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR | THE JOURNAL Oconee County adminis- Director Jeff Garrison said the Oconee County Regional Airport — which trator Amanda Brock can be exclusively hosts private airplanes — has fared better than some airports added to that list. throughout the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many effects CENTRAL and strains of the COVID-19 in just $300 from July-No- pandemic, airports and vember this year. Jet fuel airlines have been hit partic- revenue clocks in at $358,037 DOWN ularly hard. That impact ap- through November this fis- • Special events pears to also be affecting the cal year, down from $572,232 Former county county-owned and operated through December in the • Aviation fuel Oconee County Regional previous fiscal year. • Jet fuel Airport (KCEU). Revenue in long-term council chairman Revenue is down for avi- parking is up and in fact has • Hangar rent ation fuel, jet fuel, hangar reached a four-year high of rent and special events. Spe- $2,080 in five months. cial events, which brought Brock said the catego- UP Nash dies at 82 in $5,000 over the first six ries lacking in traditional • Long-term months of the previous fiscal revenue hauls are “evidence year — from July through parking BY GREG OLIVER person and a person December 2019 — brought SEE AIRPORT, PAGE A5 THE JOURNAL everyone should aspire to be,” Central Mayor CENTRAL — Central Mac Martin said. resident Bob Nash, who Martin said when died last month at age he was first elected 82, served others in to town council more education, government, than 15 years ago and the military and his later became mayor, community. “Bob was a first-class SEE NASH, PAGE A6 OCONEE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT REVENUES Fiscal year 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 July-December $567,213.54 $647,923.46 $788,319. 29 $489,906.42 January-June $1,059,093.63 $1,314,244.17 $1,241,559.20 ? Total $1,626,307.17 $1,962,167.63 $2,029,878.49 $1,175,755.41* *(projected) OCONEE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT EXPENSES Fiscal year 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 $968, 098 $1,280,572 $1,183,586 $1,300,642* SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL *(amount approved in September) Longtime Southern Wesleyan University profes- sor Bob Nash, who also served on Pickens County Council for more than two decades, including as chairman, died last month at age 82. | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 OPINION A4 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 SPORTS C1 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D3 LIFESTYLE B1 STOCK REPORTS D2 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 Let’s hang in there COLUMNISTS B3 OBITUARIES B2 WORLD | NATION D1 for the long haul. B5 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 School district reports 11 more SDOC changing COVID-19 COVID-19 cases WALHALLA — The School District of Oconee County notification process in 2021 said Thursday that it had 11 more positive BY GREG OLIVER families will receive an email when a COVID-19 cases report- Thursday’s COVID-19 THE JOURNAL positive case is identified in their child’s ed the previous two classroom. No longer will a school mes- days. numbers at a glance WALHALLA — The School District of senger call all families when a case is The latest cases Oconee County will implement changes identified in the child’s room or make an include a Fair-Oak Confirmed Confirmed Percent to its COVID-19 notification process start- additional call to those students in the Elementary employee, cases deaths positive ing Jan. 4 after receiving feedback from classroom with the positive person. a student and employ- South Carolina 2,023 39 24.2% parents and discussion with principals. Dodd said the district will continue to ee at Walhalla High, SDOC spokeswoman Jennifer Dodd update COVID-19 cases in the district on two James M. Brown Oconee County 70 0 25.4%* said the parent or guardian of any its website with all positive cases among Elementary students, Pickens County 110 3 28.1%* student who has been in close contact employees and students, as well as class- a Walhalla Middle * Seven-day moving average with a person who has tested positive rooms, grade levels and schools that have student, a Walhalla will be notified by a personal phone call. been transitioned to distance learning for Elementary student, Cumulative cases Dodd said the call will explain that their a period of time. Parents can also view two Westminster Ele- South Carolina: 243,583 cases, 4,484 deaths student is subject to state-mandated the notification process and other infor- mentary employees, a quarantine procedures and will provide mation by visiting the district’s COVID-19 Blue Ridge Elementary Oconee County: 4,209 cases, 50 deaths a return-to-school date for their child. Notification Process and Resources site. student and a Seneca Pickens County: 8,231 cases, 108 deaths A close contact is identified by the S.C. Dodd added that the COVID-19 positive High student. Department of Health and Environmen- case site will not be updated during Christ- That brings the SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL tal Control as someone who has been in mas break, which runs from Wednesday district’s overall total contact, within 6 feet, with someone for 15 through Jan. 3. As of Thursday, 349 positive to 349 since the school minutes or more, with or without a mask. COVID-19 cases had been reported in the year began Aug. 24. Dodd also said that elementary school school district since classes began Aug. 24. The school dis- trict has also added | CALENDAR | classroom and school closures to its daily SATURDAY COVID-19 report. FLEET RESERVE Association, Branch 15, breakfast at 8:30 a.m., fol- The latest classroom lowed by a business meeting at 9 a.m. at Chicopee United Methodist US attorney warns of vaccine scam closure was a 5-year- Church, 403 S. Catherine St., Walhalla. [email protected] or old kindergarten class (864) 638-7553 THE JOURNAL STAFF the country, every South scam or fraud should con- at James M. Brown Carolinian should be extra tact the National Center Elementary, which was THE ED Harrison Memorial Celtic Christmas & Holiday Market 10 SENECA — The top U.S.