Author: Dick Mangrum

The Small Business Administration approved $2,358,000 in loans late last week for tornado survivors in South Carolina. Aiken, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Hampton, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg and Pickens counties are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based organizations) in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA […]

Two Matthew Durham supporters for Seat Two, Oconee County Council are suggesting that Durham’s opponent, Josh Roberts, should he win, will face ethical challenges.  Roberts doesn’t believe that will be the case.  As explained by Wayne McCall, the current councilman, Roberts could run up against what’s called the “Master-Servant” relationship.  The candidate is a school teacher; his wife, an assistant […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Friday announced 331 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and 13 additional deaths.  This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 11,131 and those who have died to 483. Eight of the deaths occurred in elderly individuals from Berkeley (1), Darlington (1), Fairfield […]

Today Walhalla government became real estate richer.  All sorts of rumors have cropped up in recent years about the future for a large, empty corner lot at Main and S. College.  Now the city of Walhalla can dictate what’s eventually developed.  The city closed on the property acquisition, paying JKAT about $250 thousand.  The money came from city reserves.  Brent […]

A traffic stop yesterday near Walhalla turned into a drug investigation and the arrest of a rural Oconee woman.  Today’s announcement by the Sheriff’s Office states that Mamie Jane Black of the Whitewater Falls Road, Salem was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine.  The arrest warrant accuses 55-year old Black of possessing more than 400 grams of meth.  The traffic stop […]

An Itron spokeswoman has confirmed that a worker at its West Union plant tested positive for COVID-19.  A 101.7/WGOG NEWS call to Itron headquarters in Washington state has produced an email reply from Alison Mallahan, senior manager for corporate communications.  She writes:  “We can confirm a positive test at our West Union facility.  We are working to ensure the safety […]

Multiple sources have told 101.7/WGOG NEWS that an Oconee manufacturing plant closed last night after the discovery that one employee had contracted COVID-19.  We’ve been unable to officially confirm the identity of the manufacturing plant, but have left phone messages with plant officials and its corporate headquarters.  We are told that upon the case discovery, a major sanitizing procedure was […]

Ear-loop surgical masks are must-have personal protective gear for health workers, but, over a 12-hour shift, the straps can painfully rub delicate around-the-ear skin. MSI Mold Builders, which has a manufacturing plant in Greenville, stepped in to make and donate 30,000 “Ear Savers” for healthcare workers at Prisma Health after being told of the need. “Our ability to fill the […]

The Western Upstate Association of REALTORS applied, and has been awarded, a$150,000.00 grant from the REALTORS Relief Foundation of the National Association of REALTORS. This disaster relief grant is for the purpose of providing housing assistance to the families impacted by the tornado disaster in Oconee and Pickens Counties. The maximum applicant grant amount is capped at $1,000.00 per household. You […]

Duke Energy has announced major improvements at Devils Fork State Park in Oconee County, to help manage growing interest in the state’s only public access to Lake Jocassee. Among them are:   At Double Springs boat-in camping area The development of 12 new boat-in sites The relocation of the original 13 sites to more scenic spots A new composting toilet […]