Author: Dick Mangrum

A classified legal ad carried this week by The Journal affords the public the opportunity to have a say in whether a small hydro-electric project near Seneca should receive a new, 30-year license from the federal government. The project is the Coneross Hydroelectric on SC 59 just south of the city at the Coneross Creek. In recent years, a lightning […]

The executive director of the Oconee Chamber of Commerce is hopeful that Oconeeans will balance their need to follow proper health safety guidelines and still remember that local business needs their patronage during these difficult times. The chamber’s JoAnn Johnson says many in the local business community are concerned over whether they will be able to continue. “We have so […]

The town of Salem has now closed the Town Hall until March 31. The decision is made to reduce the risk of transmission for the well being of the public and town workers.  Water payments are accepted by mail and by dropping them in the box mounted on the wall.  You can also call the Town Hall number (944-2819) to […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is investigating 13 additional cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. This brings the total number statewide to 60 cases in 14 counties. “We emphasize the importance of practicing disease prevention measures and following recommendations for social distancing to protect our community as a whole,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC physician […]

To help the community minimize travel and potential exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Prisma Health is changing the way patients will receive care from their doctors’ offices and how surgeries will continue, beginning immediately. First, physician practices are evaluating routinely scheduled office visits to determine if a telehealth visit is an alternative. This will include both telephone and video virtual health […]

Senator Tim Scott tweeted additional information regarding the damage yesterday’s vote in the Senate could do to small businesses and their employees. The text of the tweets can be found below. “The provisions in the bill as it relates to paid leave place a mandate on small businesses without a corresponding immediate cash flow. We all agree that paid leave […]

The spokeswoman for Oconee public schools, Jennifer Dodd, says the district is pleased with the start of distance learning, in which kids from home by computer are being taught by their teachers.  But there is a change.  Instead of a hookup by the teachers from the empty classrooms, the teachers are connecting online with their students from teacher’s home to […]

The new mayor pro-tem in Westminster feels he owes no one an apology for being pro-active when it comes to asking Oconee County for financial help for his money-tight city. This was one of the positions that Rusty Cater felt compelled last night to explain during the March meeting of the city council. “Brad (fellow Councilman Brad Chastain) made a […]

The South Carolina Department of Revenue is offering more time to file returns and pay taxes due April 1-June 1.  This is to assist taxpayers during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Tax returns and payments due April 1-June 1 will now be due June 1.  This includes South Carolina Individual Income Taxes, Corporate Income Taxes, Sales and Use Tax, Admissions Tax, and […]

The 50th reunion of the 1970 class at Seneca High School was to have taken place April 4. World health events are changing that date. The new date will be August 15 at the same location—the Lighthouse Restaurant and Event Center. Every graduating class can usually claim something special. The 1970 graduates of Seneca are no different. Their total number […]