Author: Dick Mangrum

In the opinion of Julian Davis, the chairman of Oconee County Council, Oconee should not abide by stricter orders than that which are promulgated by Governor McMaster.  The governor made clear yesterday South Carolina is not at the point where the recommended stay-home order should be expanded to mandatory.  Davis says he believes the governor and his staff have the […]

Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03) released the following statement on the REAL ID enforcement deadline extension announced today by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): “I’m thankful to see this commonsense deadline extension for REAL ID by the Trump Administration. This is the right move not only given the unprecedented times our nation faces, but because states need sensible relief in […]

Prisma Health has announced the suspension during the COVID-19 crisis of all COVID-19 related patient statements and billing.  Sandy Dees, Prisma spokeswoman, said, “The entire Prisma Health team is committed to meeting the healthcare needs of our communities and want to ensure that patients have access to the care they need.”  If a patient receives treatment related to COVID-19 from […]

The 27-year old man wanted by Oconee authorities as the suspect in a Wednesday afternoon shooting in Foxwood Hills is in custody this morning in Stephens County, Georgia. Master Deputy Jimmy Watt of the Oconee Sheriff’s Office says Devan Chavis Bennett was apprehended last evening near the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport. The following charges are listed against Bennett: attempted murder and […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced two additional deaths related to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. This brings the state’s total number of deaths to nine. One patient was an elderly person from Kershaw County who had underlying health conditions. The second patient was an elderly person from Sumter County who also had underlying health conditions. […]

101.7/WGOG NEWS has received a table that delineates how many ventilators are now in South Carolina hospitals…and how many are being used.  For eight Prisma Upstate hospitals (Greenville-Pickens) the numbers show 172 ventilators, but none in use.  We are trying to verify those numbers with a Prisma spokesman.  The table of numbers shows at AnMed Health in Anderson there are […]

“The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a release today to update our citizens on law enforcement operations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘The safety of our citizens in the county continues to be our top priority. I have also placed an emphasis on keeping our staff healthy as we continue being on the front lines to provide […]

“I’m just waiting day-to-day to see how what we’ll be told to do as far as closing.” That’s the reality facing some of Oconee County’s cosmetologists who’ve been trying to work and yet adjust to the guidelines for avoiding close contact with others during the COVID-19 spread. Gwen Owens has been in the business of cutting both men’s and women’s […]

The game of pickleball is a paddleball game for all ages, and soon Walhalla will have an official pickleball court.  There’s a crew at work now at the City Park on W. Main Street working on the project.  City councilman Josh Roberts is one of Walhalla’s biggest supporters to expand recreation offerings to those who like to play the game.

West Union will cut a break to those people who can’t meet the cost of a water service deposit because of the financial impact caused them by the COVID-19.  In a special telephone meeting, the council voted to new customers affected installment payments to meet the cost of a $125 deposit.  The emergency ordinance expires in 60 days.