Author: Dick Mangrum

Welding is an important craft in society, and Tri-County Technical College believes there’s no one better teacher than Randy Price.  He has served as an adjunct for Tech’s welding program continually since he graduated from the program in 1995.  Price has taught every term, for a total of 81 semesters.  In recognition, the college has awarded him the 2022 Adjunct […]

When the famous 1954 Supreme Court ruling outlawing school segregation is remembered, Topeka, Kansas is often the focus because that was the home of the plaintiff in Brown v. Board of Education.  But, as pointed out in a written remembrance provided by the Conversation USA, of which Clemson University is a subscriber, the story of the case had a start […]

Third District Representative Jeff Duncan, Laurens Republican, says he has joined a friend of the court brief urging the U-S Supreme Court to take up a case to delist Planned Parenthood as a South Carolina Medicaid provider.  The case, Kerr v. Edwards, centers on the state’s decision to delist Planned Parenthood.  The brief asks the court to take up the […]

Word is spreading today that Governor McMaster will speak next month in Walhalla in an event being arranged by the Oconee Republican Party. The governor is seeking a new term in office in this year’s elections. David McMahan, chairman of the Oconee GOP, announces that McMaster will speak at 5 pm Thursday, June 9 at the Center for the Performing […]

Two elementary schools in Oconee are receiving new principals for the 2022-23 year.  As the result of school board action last night, Charlotte Kiker is the new principal at Northside Elementary in Seneca.  Mary Thrift will be the principal at Walhalla’s James Brown Elementary.

If you’ve driven in and around Lavonia, Georgia recently, you are likely to have spotted “Stop the Rock Quarry” signs on the sides of highways–highway 59, highway 328/Gumlog Road, and throughout the city of Lavonia.  At least one grassroots group has formed to contest Vulcan Materials’ plans for a former textile plant on highway 59.  A follow-up drop-in meeting by […]

Duke Energy has started two days of environmental site reviews of its Bad Creek hydro-electric station in northern Oconee County.  The utility hopes to gain a 50-year extension of its federal license to continue to make hydro-power using the energy of moving water.  Built within a blue granite mountain eight miles north of Salem, Duke refers to the hydro station’s […]

The state patrol reports a dump truck accident 3.5 miles east of Pendleton took the life yesterday of a 50-year old Piedmont resident.  The fatality has yet to be publicly identified by name.  State trooper Ridgeway said the accident, at 12:15 pm, occurred on SC 88 near Gillespie Road.  The Mack truck struck the end of a guardrail and then […]

This announcement this afternoon from the office of the South Carolina governor:  “Immediately following the indictment of Oconee County Councilman Matthew Durham, Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2022-15, suspending Durham from office.  Durham is suspended until such time as he is formally acquitted or convicted, or until a duly elected successor is qualified and takes the oath of office.”

Oconee Grand Jury returned true bills today in the state’s case against Matthew Durham, Oconee County councilman.  The indictments allege unlawful neglect of a child and domestic violence second degree.  The indictments bear the signatures of the grand jury foreman, along with a special agent of “SLED”, and the state Attorney’s General, Alan Wilson, whose office will act as prosecutor.  […]