Author: Dick Mangrum

In the George Floyd aftermath, Oconee Sheriff”s Office has hired Dan Holland as a cultural diversity director for the office.  Holland has a background in education and, for an eight-year period, served on a corporate compliance committee for the Greenville Hospital System/Oconee Medical Center.  According to the announcement, Sheriff Crenshaw has tasked Holland to develop a program that examines department […]

Black Lives Matter protests are planned today and tomorrow in Westminster and Walhalla.  Last night a one-man protest by a young white Walhalla man in sympathy of BLM finished after around two to two and  half hours when he decided to voluntarily climb down from the civil war monument on W. Main Street.  A large crowd gathered around him, and […]

A young Walhalla man is staging a protest in Walhalla tonight in the hopes that his demonstration will lead to the take down of a civil war monument that stands in the grass median on W. Main Street.  He apparently climbed the tall monument and has attached himself with a purple, rope-like material.  He told us that his hope is […]

Senior Farmers Market vouchers will be handed out over two days next week in Seneca.  The United Way, partnering with DSS, will give away vouchers 9 am to 1 pm Tuesday and Wednesday at the Blue Ridge Community Center, 310 W. S. 5th Street first come, first served.  If you have already registered online, remember to bring ID and confirmation […]

Governor Henry McMaster has issued Executive Order 2020-40, which declares a new state of emergency, allows bowling alleys to open immediately, and lifts restrictions on the occupancy of retail establishments. “South Carolinians know what they can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, and it’s incumbent upon each and every one of us to follow the advice and […]

Two names long associated with Clemson University’s earliest days are being removed, in accordance with an announcement this morning by the university.  They are the names of John C. Calhoun and Ben Tillman, whose association with slavery and segregation eras have drawn criticism in recent times.  Here is today’s announcement: “The Clemson University Board of Trustees today approved changing the […]

Dabo Swinney has predicted that Death Valley will rock with football this year.  Among those who would agree with the need to return to football is South Carolina’s 3rd District member of congress.  U-S Rep. Jeff Duncan, the Laurens Republican, has released a letter that he sent to the NCAA president on the importance of the football season.  It appears […]

If you are stressed about COVID-19, or anything else that’s a challenge in your life, Prisma Health  offers a free depression risk assessment, available online at PrismaHealth.org/DepressionQuiz.   “Times of stress, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, can cause fear and anxiety,” said Geoffrey Williams, director of Prisma Health-Midlands outpatient behavioral care. “People have struggled with feeling isolated, especially those with […]

Chairman Julian Davis of Oconee County Council said before last night’s special meeting, he spent part of the day in conversation with African-American community members.  His take from the talks is a realization that racism is real and there’s need for continued discussions to end it.  As Davis put it, in remarks to his fellow councilmen, round table discussions need […]

On a second reading budget vote, Oconee County Council agreed tonight to defund part of its advertising arrangement with The Journal newspaper in Seneca.  A motion by the Seneca member, Paul Cain, cuts off all ads, except those which are statutorily required. Cain motioned to re-direct the ad money to efforts to cultural diversity training for law enforcement and to […]