Author: Dick Mangrum

The major wire service The Associated Press has identified dams across the country that are in poor condition. The numbers are believed to exceed 1,600, and Oconee is just one of many locations where there’s concern. “We’re working with every single dam owner to make sure there’s an appropriate action plan built so if there are some issues, we can […]

If you are driving Walhalla today, you might want to avoid a set of small and narrow streets on the mill hill–the residential community that developed during the era of textile manufacturing.  The street pavers are out in force–in spite of the wet conditions. They are working on the following streets:  Parker, Gerber, Wesley, Verner, Jaynes, Lucas, and parts of […]

Some 40 customers of Westminster electric power service are affected by an outage this morning–caused when a limb fell on some copper wiring.  Those who live on Augusta Street, Jack Street, and Retreat Street saw their lights go dark around 7 o’clock.  But Westminster’s Marty Reid says crews are at work, and the service should be restored soon.

The chairman of Walhalla’s utilities committee has issued a call for water customers to fill the city council chambers on Tuesday evening and be heard on whether they believe a $65 dollar re-connection fee is too steep. Councilman David Underwood, fresh from his top-of-the-ticket re-election, wants water customers—those who live inside the city and those who live outside—to turn out […]

The weekend weather will gradually improve, and that’s going to fit nicely with a group of female outdoor adventurers who are assembling in the area for active outdoor recreation. Palmetto Conservation has organized the weekend to empower and inspire women to head into the great outdoors and enjoy trails and parks.  Trails and parks such as those at the state’s […]

Walhalla and county fire personnel used a small rope system to help rescue a stranded person yesterday afternoon at the Stumphouse Mountain Park.  The individual had strayed from the trail and became stranded on the ledge above the falls. It’s an incident that causes Brandon Burton, the fire chief, to point out that outdoor enthusiasts should always keep in mind […]

The death yesterday morning in a long-term re-hab center in Spartanburg of a gunshot victim from Seneca is classified as a case of homicide. And it leaves Oconee County authorities to plead to the public for information to help solve what happened last summer to Timothy Wade Phillips. One arrest has already been made in the case. Deputies July 10 […]

Seventeen-year-old Jesse Osborne was sentenced Thursday to life in prison on two charges of murder, plus an additional 30 years for two counts of attempted murder in connection with the 2016 murder of his father and shootings at the Townville Elementary School that left six-year-old first-grader Jacob Hall dead and a teacher and another student wounded. The sentences will be […]

A hunter from Liberty was wounded by gunfire, as his group deer-hunted this morning in Oconee County. The wounding of the hunter, not identified by name, is being investigated by the DNR, and one of its officers indicates there’s the possibility charges will be filed. The hunting mishap is believed to have occurred this morning in an area in the […]