Author: Dick Mangrum

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has announced that 21 South Carolina communities, including the city of Seneca, have been awarded Community Development Block Grant Funds. The awarded Block Grant Funds will provide Seneca $500,000 for the demolition of the old J.N. Kellett Elementary School. The population of the communities statewide receiving the grants represents around 43,000 residents. City Administrator […]

A 20-year old Oconee County man has been arrested and charged with the negligent use of a firearm in an incident last month in which a hunter was wounded by gunfire in the southern part of the county. Steven Dixon Mewbourn of the West-Oak Highway, Westminster was named a suspect in the incident in a report filed by an investigating […]

U-S Senator Graham has joined his Republican colleague Rep. Duncan in using the word sham to describe the attempt to impeach President Trump.  And Graham also is of the opinion that those named in the Salem witch trials had fairer deals.

A Seneca official addressed today what will happen next on the project to extend passenger bus service farther into Oconee County. The county council this week agreed to put up matching funds for a grant that will allocate two new buses that’ll extend the service beyond the Seneca area. From what Seneca’s Ed Halbig says, it sounds as if a […]

Rep. Jeff Duncan, South Carolina 3rd District Republican, released a statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that the Democrat-led House of Representatives will proceed with Articles of Impeachment against President Trump. “It’s astounding to watch Speaker Pelosi pretend Democrats have taken this process solemnly and seriously, when it has been a predetermined outcome since January 2017. This has been – […]

After nearly four months of the current school year, a comparison shows not much change in the Oconee School District enrollment from this year to last year. Steve Hanvey, associate superintendent, this morning said, “We are at 10,527 today.” That’s 100 fewer students from one year ago. The public schools enrollment is a testament to the increasing graying of the […]

At the least, it makes for a good conversation piece.  A large, low-flying airplane was seen once again in the sky over Oconee by those in the Seneca to Keowee to Walhalla areas.  It appears to be some type of military aircraft.  One theory has been that the military was practicing in advance of the military recognition day during a […]

Pickens County Sheriff’s Office hopes someone will come forward to help identify a burglar who struck on Tuesday on the Earls Bridge Road in the Dacusville Community.  The intruder knocked on the front door of the home several times and then drove to an attached shop building and tried to kick open the door.  He then tried to get thru […]

Illegal tire dumps are the target of a new statewide initiative by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), PalmettoPride and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). “While advancements in the management of scrap tires continue, we recognize that there is more to be done,” said DHEC Environmental Affairs Director Myra Reece. “The ‘See It, Report It’ […]

Oconee and Pickens are among 14 South Carolina counties removed from incipient status–the first level of drought–as conditions have improved,  in the estimation of the state Drought Response Committee.  According to Hope Mizzell, state climatologist, most of South Carolina received normal to above normal rainfall over the last 60 days.  The marketing specialist for the agriculture department, Katherine Helms, reports […]