Author: Dick Mangrum

Social distancing will entail limited stadium seating Saturday, June 20 for Oconee’s three graduating ceremonies for the 2020 senior classes.  Those ceremonies, to be held in the football stadiums on the high school campuses, will be live-streamed.  The school district announces that the ceremonies will be live-streamed in partnership with the Bagby Group.  Links will be posted to the school […]

The board that governs Oconee elections convenes at 9 in the morning to evaluate challenged ballots. The board, chaired by Jim Murray, will have the duty to accept or reject ballots cast as provisional votes in the primaries.   And the outcome of those provisionals for one race, according to elections director Joy Scharich, will determine if there shall be a […]

By proclamation, Seneca has gone on record with the city’s remorse and upset over the death in Minnesota of George Floyd while in police custody.  A proclamation was read into the record last night by City Administrator Scott Moulder.  Mayor Alexander requested Moulder to articulate city government’s feelings and attitudes about the injustice to Floyd, as well as what other […]

Scott Moulder, Seneca city administrator, feels compelled to backtrack on his earlier position that the city can make another year without raising its property tax rate.  Last night Moulder blamed rising health insurance costs and the financial impact to city government by the EF3 tornado for causing what appears to be a decline in $800 thousand worth of revenue.  The […]

U.S. Senator and Oconee County resident Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) claims an overwhelming victory in the Republican Primary against challengers whose names are unknown to many voters.  Graham credits his victory to months of hard work and support from a dedicated staff and a massive grassroots army of volunteers and donors. “I am deeply grateful and humbled by the trust […]

Two Oconee County councilmen who often disagree were the choices of their district voters in the Republican primary.  District Five’s Glenn Hart turned back a challenge from Les Richardson (1,099-969) and District Four’s Julian Davis emerged with a skinny, 37-vote margin over Jack Collins (1,129-1,092).  That tight race prompted questions of whether there will be a vote re-count.  Not so […]

Julian Davis survived a close battle with Jack Collins to win unofficially re-nomination as the Republican candidate for Oconee County Council 4.  So did fellow Republican Glenn Hart, the unofficial winner tonight over Lee Richardson.  The District Two seat goes to Matthew Durham, who bested Josh Roberts.  With about 80% of the vote, Sheriff Crenshaw wins re-nomination as the November […]

Here’s an announcement from Prisma Health, parent company of the Oconee Memorial Hopspital:  “Prisma Health has successfully cared for hundreds of COVID-19 patients in its physician practices, emergency departments, outpatient departments and inpatient units. As of June 8, system-wide Prisma Health had 94 patients hospitalized who were confirmed with COVID-19 and an additional 11 patients hospitalized with suspected COVID-19, slightly above […]

The annual membership meeting of the Pioneer Rural Water District ended within 10 minutes, after none of the customers took part in a telephone hookup arranged out of deference to the world pandemic.  Everything, including Pioneer’s one-year old treatment plant seems to be properly operating.  The only concern brought up was in a question from board member Eddie Grant.  He […]