Author: Dick Mangrum

Narcotics agents with the Oconee Sheriff’s Office began the first drug sweep yesterday of 2020. The operation officially began with a briefing this morning. It included not only agents from the Narcotics Division and deputies from the warrants division. In all, 17 people are being sought on drug distribution charges involving methamphetamine and controlled substances and one charge of distribution […]

An Upstate South Carolina man is being blamed for a burglary last year at a rural Oconee County convenience store. Oconee Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of Kaeleb William Fleming, a 20-year old man with addresses in Taylors and Wellford. Fleming has been implicated in a May 17 case in which apparently two males pulled off an early morning burglary […]

The work of an Oconee traffic enforcement officer is credited with paying off with the arrest of a driver in Seneca. In the traffic stop yesterday afternoon on ES 6th Street, Oconee Sheriff’s Office searched a burgundy Mercedes-Benz and confiscated narcotics and two guns, one of which was reported stolen. The following charges are listed against 27-year old Fair Play […]

For Westminster’s 145th birthday next month, the Westminster Area Historic Preservation Society plans to celebrate the legacy of the city’s former major employer–the Beacon Manufacturing Company.  Tammy S. Bryson says  by sharing memories and pictures from the Beacon era, those who worked there and family members can enhance the remembrance.  They are accepting pictures and other mementoes at 723-3535 or […]

In a new partnership between Oconee public schools and the county Emergency Services, emergency training will be offered to J-ROTC students. Taking part in a pilot program will be Walhalla High J-ROTC students. The training for the cadets will be conducted during their regular class time this month, and each cadet will receive a certificate at the end. Scott Krein, […]

Some disappointing news for those of us hoping to watch the spillway gates open at the Hartwell Dam. On Wednesday, the Corps of Engineers Savannah office announced they would not be opening the spillways this week as planned and might not have to open them at all. Corps spokesman Billy Birdwell says the Corps had planned to open the spillway […]

Service was restored to Blue Ridge customers in Salem shortly after 7:30 this morning.  And a few minutes later 101.7/WGOG was able to return to the air.  The Next School at Eagle Ridge in Salem is operating on a two-hour delay this morning.

A quick burst of wind was heard as Blue Ridge Electric Power service failed this morning in the Salem area.  Lynn Towe, the mayor of Salem, said the outage started at 5 minutes to 6, and the burst of wind lasted for only a few seconds.  Towe speculates there are trees down on power lines.

It was one year ago yesterday that a Walhalla area woman, Faith Roach, was reported missing by her family.  A year has passed, and apparently no sign of the young woman.  She has not been forgotten.  An investigator with the Sheriff’s Office told us this week that he and other officers remain busy trying to find Roach, as well as […]