Author: Dick Mangrum

It is getting drier.  The three reservoirs on the upper Savannah River basin are now declared Drought Level 2 by the U-S Army Corps of Engineers.  In response to the pool elevation at Lake Thurmond dipping, Drought Level 2 was declared on Sunday.  The pool elevations today at 654.46 feet above mean sea level at Lake Hartwell and 323.71 ft-msl […]

As many as six Walhalla restaurateurs are said to be unclear as to what’s being required of them regarding grease traps and the like.  And yesterday the board of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority urged its executive director to better communicate rules covering the disposal of fats, oils and grease.  Another area where there is the need for better public […]

Early morning duty for Oconee fire fighters.  Walhalla and Mountain Rest fire fighters extinguished a porch fire near the Cassidy Bridge Road.  The alarm was sounded just before 2 am.

One parent, worried about school safety, vowed last night that her child is going to take his cell phone to school, regardless of the upcoming ban against cell phones in classrooms.  But last night Steve Hanvey, associate superintendent of Oconee schools, said unless the Oconee district complies with the new mandate, it risks losing 25% of its state financial support.  […]

Originally Oconee sewer policy was made by a county sewer commission, followed by a body politic known as the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  Fast forward to the 21st century and there’s a new movement that sewer decisions need a new direction.  The JRSA board yesterday set in motion an ad hoc committee to make recommendations.  The commissioners will nominate […]

A 13-year-old boy has been detained, the sheriff’s office says, after an investigation concluded that he made threats toward Walhalla Middle School  The boy, a student at Walhalla Middle, was charged with making school threats.  According to a school district statement, there were also rumors of possible threats at both West-Oak High School and Walhalla High School.  However, both incidents […]

The following statement this afternoon from Oconee School District: “Walhalla High School was made aware of a possible social media post that led students to believe there was a threat made to the school.  After a thorough investigation, it was determined to be a false rumor; no credible information was found to support the possibility of a threat. An announcement […]

No official ceremony will take place Wednesday in Walhalla on the anniversary of 9-11.  However, Brandon Shirley of the county’s 9-11 committee says, members of the public are welcome to visit the memorial on N. Catherine Street/SC 183 where the bathrooms will be open.  According to Shirley, a large ceremony is being planned to observe the 25th anniversary of the […]

Westminster Elementary School drew the approval Friday of Ellen Weaver, the state superintendent of education.  Weaver paid a visit to the school, before her featured talk at the Apple Festival luncheon.  And she complimented the school and its faculty for its attention to early literacy education.