Author: Dick Mangrum

The Oconee County Probate Judge, Kenny Johns, says he will throw his hat into the political ring first thing tomorrow afternoon when the qualifying period opens for the South Carolina Republican Primary on June 12.  There could be a second Republican competing for that office.  The Westminster Police Chief, Rory Jones, said, yesterday, “I am considering it.”

The trial of a former Seneca church worker is moving toward the defense side of the case. Current Florida resident Stan Dimitroff is charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent at the church Life Changing Ministries as it built a new church on S. Depot Street. Trial adjourned yesterday with the completion of testimony by Oconee sheriff’s investigator Justin […]

U-S Rep. Jeff Duncan says the Students, Teachers and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence bill is a major step. Approved in a House vote of 407-10, the bill authorizes $75 million annually in grant money to state and local schools for security. During yesterday’s National School Walkout security was on the minds of hundreds of students who took part at […]

The National School Walkout, a month after the Florida high school tragedy, did not pass without hundreds of Oconee students taking part. The school district’s Steve Hanvey made this statement late this afternoon: “We had a couple of hundred students at each HS participate. The students stayed inside (safety reasons) and had the opportunity to gather together. All 3 went […]

The Westminster police chief, Rory Jones, may catch the political fever in this election year. When asked today about talk that he will run for the job of Oconee Probate Judge, Jones told 101.7/WGOG NEWS, “I am considering it.” If Jones runs, he says, he’ll seek the nomination of the county Republican Party. The office is now held by Kenny […]

Two pastors from a Seneca church led off the prosecution’s case today in the trial of former church worker Stan Dimitroff charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent. The witnesses were James Rogers and Donnie Rogers, and they testified about the loss to the Life Changing Ministries of thousands of dollars during the construction of their new church on […]

Proponents of a bill in the South Carolina legislature that would lift caps on net-metering for residential solar panel production say the measure would allow the solar market to continue to grow. But one of Oconee’s state lawmakers says there are other aspects of the bill to which he is opposed. The bill is expected to reach the floor of […]

Court officers expect an Oconee jury to be selected for the trial of South Carolina v. Stanley Anthony Dimitroff II. A Pensacola, Florida resident, Dimitroff is accused of breach of trust with fraudulent intent. An Oconee sheriff’s officer signed an affidavit to an arrest warrant that alleges, “The defendant did, between the dates of 07-23-10 and 04-01-11 breach the trust […]

If possible, Fair-Oak Youth Center would like to field baseball and softball teams this season, under the umbrella of Dixie Youth sports. But there’s a catch that Fair-Oak leaders hope to overcome, if not by this ball season, by the next season. To re-gain a Dixie Youth charter it once had, Fair-Oak must rely on Westminster and Townville recreation departments […]

A plastics industry provider is expanding in Pickens County. The South Carolina Department of Commerce announces that United Tool and Mold will make an investment of $11 million dollars in a new building in the Pickens County Commerce Park. United Tool and Mold provides tooling projects, engineering changes, and repair services for the plastic industry. There are two other locations […]