Author: Dick Mangrum

Pioneer Rural Water’s new treatment plant allowed for the switch this summer to “100% Hartwell” water, but a handful of customer complaints still linger. A couple of the water quality complaints were presented during yesterday’s meeting of the Pioneer board of directors. According to Terry Pruitt, general manager, attempts to clear up smell and taste issues are met with aggressive […]

A new restaurant is in the works for the West Union building that, for many years, housed a DQ restaurant.  Mayor Linda Oliver has announced that Walhalla restaurateurs Debbie and the Rev. Bobby Bugg have bought the former DQ on Main Street.  According to a social media posting by Oliver, “We look forward to their wonderful food and wish them […]

At 1:30 this afternoon, defendant Misty Edwards will be required to announce whether she will take the stand in her defense in the Oconee General Sessions Court. Edwards went on trial this morning, charged by the Oconee Sheriff’s Office with unlawful neglect of children. The prosecution finished its case by calling four witnesses—two DSS workers and two sheriff’s officers. The […]

At least for now, no bond will be set in the case of a young man arrested this summer after a car crashed into a home near near Seneca and killed a woman who had gone to bed for the night. Judge McIntosh in the General Sessions Court made clear he won’t entertain the idea of setting bond for El […]

A clarification made last night ensures that Walhalla’s Scott Parris has more voting authority than that which he may have thought. Parris chairs the policy board of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority and, contrary to what some may have thought, he has full voting authority. Meaning that Parris may cast a vote every time—not just when a tie vote […]

Court officers agreed yesterday that a young man with a criminal past is better suited for the Oconee County Drug Court. And a General Sessions judge complied by remanding Ronzeal Earle to the drug court in hopes that he will take advantage of the opportunities there to straighten out his life. Earle yesterday pleaded guilty to financial identification fraud and […]

Plans are set for a celebration of Oconee County agriculture. The 10th Annual Farm Oconee Dinner will be held 5:30 to 7 the evening of Monday, September 23 at the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative on the Sandifer Boulevard. The guest speaker will be Dr. Allison Justice, a Fair Play hemp farmer who partnered with a California company to create a […]

The chairman of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority gave out some whopping checks last night to the municipal members of the JRSA. Those checks and their amounts reflect a return of monies to the cities that foot the bills to treat wastewater—Seneca, Walhalla, and Westminster. And they are returned with the intent that the three cities apply the monies […]

According to the city of Clemson, contractor Pickens Construction will pave Valley View Drive during the next few days.  If you have questions or concerns, call the city Public Works at 864/653-2053.

An incident last week at Townville landed a 25-year old man in jail as the Oconee Sheriff’s Office investigated a case of alleged domestic violence. Law enforcement records show Austin Blaine Myers arrested and charged September 3 with domestic violence first degree. An affidavit attached to the arrest warrant accuses Myers of head butting a pregnant member of his household […]