Author: Dick Mangrum

Gun shots fired into a home near Walhalla lead to the arrest of a 42-year old man.  The Sheriff’s Office reports multiple charges against Freddie Ray Woods Jr–including attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and discharging firearms into a dwelling on Lighthouse Road.  The offenses are alleged to have occurred early yesterday.

An 18-year member of the Westminster Fire Department, Michael Smith, is that city’s new fire chief.  The announcement means that you can take the title of “interim” away.  Chris Carter, city administrator, said, “We were fortunate to have had numerous very qualified finalists in consideration for staffing this important position.  Acting Fire Chief Michael Smith has been a member of […]

At least one injury resulted during the noon hour on SC 59 and Dairy Farm Road.  A report from the scene indicates a woman apparently was slightly injured.  Responders used the parking lot of St. Paul Baptist Church to keep traffic moving on the two-lane highway.  One lane was shutdown as one of the damaged cars was, for the time […]

Three years have passed since the Oconee Medical Center went under the umbrella of GHS–the Greenville Health System, and there’s a change in the works at the corporate level.  Officials of GHS’s Oconee Medical Center addressed questions during a meeting last night at the hospital.  By forming one company, GHS and Palmetto Health of the Midlands will have 28,000 employees.  […]

In a ceremony today, ground is being broken at Walhalla’s Stumphouse Tunnel Park for a biking trail system, anchored by the Palmetto Trail.  The trail and the bike path are the first section of a 12-mile extension of the Palmetto Trail from Oconee Station State Historic Site into downtown Walhalla.  From Walhalla, the trail will cover 14 counties on the […]

After a stressful first nine weeks, Oconee public schools have settled into a smooth pattern, according to the man at the top.  Technological changes in the way teachers recorded grades and a switch to staggered school start times were at the forefront of the changes that had to be weathered.  Dr. Michael Thorsland, superintendent, and other district officials spoke today […]

A meeting tonight at Pickens should be of interest to builders.  There will be a public comment session on the proposed Pickens County building codes ordinance.  The meeting takes place at 6:30 in at the County Administration Facility Auditorium, 222 McDaniel Avenue, Pickens.

Moody Springs is a popular stop-off point on 107, the main road from Mountain Rest to Cashiers.  Near there today, U-S Forest Service has scheduled a 500-acre burn for the purposes of wildlife benefit and reducing hazardous fuel conditions.  A Forest Service spokesman says no smoke impacts are expected and traffic delays should be minor.