Author: Dick Mangrum

Walhalla and West Union fire fighters called late yesterday afternoon to the JTEKT manufacturing plant.  Fire was extinguished in a furnace at the plant, according to one responder.  Near Westminster, Red Cross was called to assist two people displaced by a single-wide mobile home fire on the Clearmont Road.  Fire Chief Michael Smith says the fire is under investigation.

A Georgia DOT spokesman sheds light on his state’s plans to improve I-85.  Kyle Collins says, “GDOT is expected to begin project concept development activities in Fall 2024 for a preferred alternative to reconstruct I-85 from State Route (SR) 15 in Commerce to the South Carolina State line….  Responding to an inquiry by Lake Hartwell Radio WLHR at Lavonia, Collins […]

The state Department of Revenue is granting relief to South Carolina taxpayers — the result of the Debby storm.  Several returns and payments originally due August 4, 2024 and February 3, 2025 are now due February 3, 2025.  The tax relief applies to all 46 counties and follows the IRS decision to issue relief due to the storm effects.  The […]

Fire hose lay spread across rural Clearmont Road near Westminster.  Fire fighters were sent this morning to a home fire.  No injuries are reported, and the occupants are said to have exited the home OK.  Part of the two-lane road is blocked to thru traffic.

The mayor and town council in West Union are in agreement.  If you don’t show up for a town council meeting, you don’t get paid.  Serving as mayor and as a council member is a part-time, paid job in the small town.  Mayor Oliver says there will be some exceptions, such as if an elected leader misses a meeting because […]

Westminster City Council gave preliminary approval last night to an ordinance to welcome Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in an operation and management arrangement.  The city is a retail electric power customer of “PMPA” — a municipal electric wholesale consortium based in Greer.  As explained by city administrator Kevin Bronson, the deal with Blue Ridge is a year-to-year arrangement in which […]

According to one account, there are more than 150,000 churches fighting hunger with food banks.  One of them is Walhalla’s St. Luke Methodist.  Its pantry will operate one hour this afternoon, 4:30 to 5:30.  All are welcome to partake.

Westminster re-instated the business license for a Retreat Street coffee shop, an act of compassion for a young couple who violated business license provisions.  The city council acted unanimously after a contentious one-hour-plus hearing.  Council members, however, conceded although there were communication difficulties with the operators of Chatuga Ridge Coffee, city staff carried out their role in trying to ensure […]

Most of South Carolina is now free from drought as late-July rain and tropical storm Debby covered much of the state.  However, below-normal flows in the upper Savannah basin have contributed to declining lake levels for Hartwell and Thurmond has resulted in a Stage 1 drought level. Oconee, Anderson and Pickens remain in incipient drought.