Author: Dick Mangrum

Through the years, Clemson extension agents in Oconee County such as J-C Morgan, A-D Boggs, and others have often been the frontline between the land-grant university and the county’s agricultural community.  But, with the pending retirement of current agent Morris Warner, there’s concern within the local farming community that Warner’s job might not be re-filled.  State Senator Thomas Alexander is […]

Increasing the number of weeks of circuit criminal court in Oconee holds the promise of holding down the jail populations to manageable levels. Sheriff Crenshaw believes increasing the current 12 weeks of General Sessions Court to as many as 18 weeks would avoid the potential for overcrowding in a penal facility barely five years old. But the chief prosecutor in […]

Thanks to the increased coffers that derive from the higher gasoline tax, Oconee County for the next road work season can expect projects valued in excess of one million dollars. The work will break down into thermo and pavement markings, resurfacing along with the new CMRB methods—cement modified recycled base—along with full depth patching and crack seal in Oconee, as […]

A disabled business jet sits out in the open at the Oconee airport, and soon a tent will cover the airplane while repair work is done on the craft. Jeff Garrison, airport manager, gave an explanation last week to the county aeronautics commissioners. During a recent heavy rain, a Gulfstream G4 taxied in, made a turn and, as Garrison explained, […]

The diseases that cause South Carolinians significant injury, complications, and death are detailed in a report released today by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The 2018 Morbidity Report on Reportable Conditions is meant to provide the public, along with healthcare organizations and providers, among others, important statistical information about preventable diseases and conditions. State law requires health care […]

As a result of legislation changing the way that counties collect property taxes on boats, in January of 2020, boat owners and buyers in South Carolina will begin to see changes in the way that boat registrations are issued by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The changes to the registration process will be phased in over the next […]

Home fires broke out during the night in two parts of Oconee County.  In each instance, no injuries resulted, but fire fighters were kept busy at the scenes for hours.  At 2:30 this morning, the call went out for a fire on Jay Lane in Fair Play, near SC 182.  Earlier, fire fighters were sent to a home fire in […]

A front seat passenger died and the driver suffered what the highway patrol called life-threatening injuries Saturday afternoon in a SUV wreck in Pickens County.  The patrol reported the accident at 3 pm on SC 135 in the Dacusville Community.  Trooper David Jones said the car left the road, over-corrected, and hit several trees.  The names of those involved were […]

Across from the Westminster Middle School on SC 183, a large grass fire late this morning.  It did not endanger the school or the class schedule.

The project to re-cover 123/the Sandifer Boulevard, is scheduled to see its first work on Monday. Signs fore-telling the work on 123 from the Richland Road thru downtown Westminster to the highway 76 turn have been up for months. According to a DOT official, a start this late in the fall is liable to mean that the schedule will be […]