Author: Dick Mangrum

The City of Seneca has learned that Lindsey Oil Company and LifePoint church are working together to provide fuel for generators being used by those affected by Monday’s EF-3 tornado. Organizers of the fuel oil giveaway will be stationed on the grounds of Kellett School off E. 5th Street in Seneca. This is directly behind the Seneca Fire Department. Ten […]

A so far publicly un-identified pedestrian was killed on I-85 this morning in Oconee County.  The state patrol is referring reporters to the coroner for an announcement on who died.  Details of what’s known that, so far, has been released are these:  Around 8 this morning the pedestrian was walking southbound along the interstate in the vicinity of the three […]

Snapped poles and tangled power lines over a battered landscape of downed trees are the usual challenges lineworkers face after severe weather strikes – but the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s recommended safety guidelines have added new complexities to lineworkers’ already complicated work. Storms that barreled across the Midwest and Southeast this month tested even the […]

The Oconee School Board has selected four new assistant principals for the next school year in 2020-21. Dr. Michael Thorsland, district superintendent, said, “All four of the new assistant principals have ties to our district, which just demonstrates our ‘grown our own’ leadership philosophy and the quality of educators we have teaching students here in Oconee County. Kerri King, a […]

Officials have received preliminary numbers to indicate that more than 250 homes were destroyed and more than one thousand damaged by the tornado, according to Seneca’s Scott Moulder. The city and the county have been involved in task force surveys of damaged structures. Many of the significantly damaged homes are in a condition now that doesn’t allow safe access. “FEMA”, […]

Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2020-25 authorizing the managing or operational authority to open public boat landings to facilitate exercise and outdoor activities starting at noon today. In Oconee County, priority will continue to be on disaster relief as a result of the EF-3 tornado that hit the community early Monday morning. So as not to stretch emergency resources […]

A Church of Christ disaster relief project is making possible a free, drive-through giveaway near Seneca this afternoon of food, water, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, infant supplies, and clothing for this week’s tornado victims.  The location to pick up these items will be the Seneca Church of Christ on 123, the Seneca-Clemson Corridor, located between Keowee Dodge and the Food […]

The system of Oconee’s re-cycling and convenience centers have overcome earlier power problems, and all have now re-opened, according to Swain Stihl, the director of county Solid Waste.  Stihl also ended any mystery about where all of those trucks are headed with debris scooped up from the tornado damage locations.  Those haulers are being re-directed to property on the Wells […]

Latest South Carolina DHEC numbers for Oconee County show a total of 14 cases — and no deaths.  There are, according to the state’s health agency, an estimated 86 cases in the county for a possible total of 100 cases.

At the noon hour yesterday, Walhalla Fire Department rolled men and equipment to the Rock Crusher Road and discovered smoke in a home.  A small fire in a rear bathroom, apparently started by an electrical malfunction, was extinguished.  And no one was hurt.