Author: Dick Mangrum

Oconee School District critic Lynne Martin again questioned the trustees last night as to whether there is, in fact, savings to be realized by closing two elementary schools and combining them into one new school.  She and fellow supporters favor keeping open Tamassee-Salem and separately addressing Keowee Elementary.  Tamassee-Salem supporters contend their 24-year old school is well-kept, the building is […]

The December meeting appears to be targeted for an Oconee school board vote on which long-range building plan the district shall follow.  To the trustees last night Dr. Michael Thorsland, superintendent, made clear his preference for the December agenda to call for a vote.  It’s likely that board discussion will precede the eventual vote as, to date, the trustees have […]

Coroner Karl Addis says autopsy was conducted this morning on Gary Bruce Green, who died Saturday afternoon at his home in Salem.   It was determined Mr. Green died due to smoke inhalation.   His manner of death, Addis says, is classified as accidental.

A creative inquiry class at Clemson University has as a main goal helping students and the public to tell the difference between science and pseudoscience.  That way, health claims carried on social media can be better evaluated.  Elliott Ennis, senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, created the class six years ago.  Since then, it has been his passion.  The […]

Duke’s World of Energy is gearing up for its annual Festival of Trees display with a canned food drive to support Oconee feeding programs.  Through December, the public is encouraged to drop off 15-ounce canned goods at the World of Energy during normal business hours (10 am – 4 pm) to support the Duke Energy Foundation focus on feeding insecurities.  […]

Seneca businesswoman Taylor Reed says the launch of her bookstore is a success in her first year although, for years, the deck has been stacked against bookstores.  She says her First Chapter Bookshop on Ramcat Alley is thriving.  An event there Friday seemed to verify that as a local author, Linda Lovely, attracted a crowd for the launch of her […]

Walhalla councilman-elect Kenny Johns officially becomes a city councilman today at city hall. Straight up at the noon hour, Judge Roberta Barton is scheduled to administer the oath to the county’s former probate judge to allow him to start serving the two years remaining in Tyler Jordan’s unexpired council term.  Johns last week won the special election as part of […]

At the six o’clock hour last night, the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department handled one call on top of the other.  First was a fire alarm at the Blue Ridge Orthopedics, followed six minutes later by a vehicle accident at 123 and Jacobs Road.  Chief Kevin Christenbury said, “We had to split into two groups to handle both incidents.”

There’s one fewer South Carolinian bidding for the presidency.  The Tim Scott campaign announces the candidate has suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination.  Senator Scott said he’s grateful to supporters for embracing his optimistic message and for enabling him to showcase the goodness of the country.  Scott’s exit leaves Nikki Haley the remaining South Carolinian in the contest.