Author: Dick Mangrum

Construction of a tower at the Pickens County tourist attraction Sassafras Mountain will start a week from today and, according to DNR, once construction starts, the mountain summit will be closed for safety and security reasons.  Meantime, the current viewing platform on the west side of Sassafras will remain open, along with the parking lot next to the platform.  That […]

“One minor finding” was apparently all that state inspectors uncovered during four days last week at Oconee Memorial Hospital’s Lila Doyle nursing and re-rehabilitation facility.  The inspection was the annual survey at Lila Doyle by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.  Dr. Angela Orsky of GHS said, “We are extremely proud of the Lila Doyle team for the […]

Formal charges were pending yesterday against a Seneca man jailed after the assault of a woman on Utica’s Padgett Street.  The woman was airlifted for hospital treatment.  A possible person of interest was developed and a Seneca man was detained after investigators say he was found walking along Goddard Avenue.  Officers responded to the Padgett Street address yesterday morning.  According […]

According to Dr. Michael Thorsland, the Oconee superintendent of education, the county district is showing progress, but work remains for the district to be one of the ten best in the state.  The new accountability report card shows Oconee has raised its graduation rate to 85% and reduced dropouts to 2.8%.  Ginger Hopkins, assistant superintendent for instruction, says she’s pleased […]

Crimestoppers of Oconee seeks any information from the public to help solve the theft of a valuable car from a vintage era.  A 1955 Chevy Bel Air was taken early November 4 from a home on Woodfern Drive near Westminster.  The car has a champagne color and, according to the owner, is worth around $65 thousand.  Surrounding law enforcement has […]

A group at Clemson has announced plans for a show of opposition at this hour to tax overhaul plan approved by the U-S House of Representatives.  The group is Indivisible Clemson Area and, with others, plans to convey to Senator Lindsey Graham that there are people who will be hurt by the loss of deductions and credits.  They plan to […]

The state is out with new figures that again show a falling Oconee County unemployment rate.  For October, the estimate is that 3.8% of the county’s workforce was out of work but actively trying to nail down a job.  September’s jobless rate was 3.9%.  At 3.8%, Oconee is lower than the state (at 3.9%) and the nation (at 4.1%.)  The […]

A Georgia jury returned not guilty verdicts on all three charges against a 37-year old man accused of punching Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley in the head.  Acquitted on Wednesday was John Matthew Williams.  The charges arose from Shirley’s response in 2016 to a report of a possible kidnapping.  The jury saw photographs of the sheriff’s  injuries, but foreman Steve […]

Seneca’s Paws and Taws Square Dancing Club is already making plans for the new year.  They are looking for new members and, for a limited time, will offer free lessons.  A get-acquainted hot dog supper will be held 6:30 to 8 o’clock Thursday night, January 11 at Senior Solutions.  Free lessons will be offered on the following two Thursday nights.  […]

Seneca Rotary Club this week recognized Students of the Month for November.  Honored were Allen Crenshaw of Seneca High School, Landon Robinson of Northside Elementary, Miranda Ripley of Blue Ridge Elementary, Faith Simmons of Seneca Middle School, and Cole Cooper of Ravenel Elementary School.