Author: Dick Mangrum

A potential security breach involving email has been discovered at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.  Southern Wesleyan administrators are investigating what’s described as “inadvertent emails” sent by the book vendor to students.  According to a notification to students from Dr. Tonya Strickland, university provost, those emails may have contained student identification information.  Students were told to delete the email and […]

An estimated 30-40 people took part in last night’s forum in Seneca on a project to consider establishing a community center at the former Code Elementary School.  Years ago the campus served as a junior high school and, at one time, a black high school during the era of school segregation.  Curtis White Sr. of the Blue Ridge Community Center […]

Those who work outdoors or in poorly ventilated places inside are lamenting the mid 90 temperatures that have greeted us during the last full week of July.  But we only have to go back to July of last year to remember what hot is really like. A check of the official records kept by U-S Weather Observer Barbara Wilson in […]

Three Oconeeans were in jail yesterday facing drug charges after deputies went to Peachtree Lane near Westminster to look for a person of interest.  According to the Sheriff’s Office, arrested were Steven Gil Wilson, Bob Everett Welborn, and Brittney Nicole Varner.  Deputies went to a camper on the property and say they saw one person run and heard others inside […]

Old Georgia Road near SC 183/the Walhalla-Westminster Highway, will remain closed today as Oconee County crews continue asphalt repairs.  According to the county Roads and Bridges Department, local residents will be able to access their homes with minimal delay.  Every effort is being made to minimize inconvenience and re-open the road as soon as possible.

A $500 dollar fine and credit for serving two days in jail settles the case of a man charged with indecent exposure on Lake Keowee.  Judge Scott Sprouse in the Oconee General Sessions Court handed down the sentence today in the Oconee General Sessions Court to Larry Ownbey who was charged in 2015 by the South Carolina DNR.  Assistant Solicitor […]

The new South Carolina Roads Bill, along with increased funds from the legislature, makes possible re-surfacing and re-habilitation projects in 27 counties,  including Oconee. The DOT today announced that the projects will cover nearly 200 miles of paving work around the state and are valued at $26.5 million. The projects are part of SCDOT’s increased re-surfacing program and the local […]

At least one pre-trial issue in Seneca v. Pioneer Rural Water has apparently been settled by the cancellation this morning in Anderson of a motion hearing at which the attorney for Pioneer’s consultant firm would have moved to quash a subpoena.  That subpoena would have sought information related to the water plant project from Design South Professionals.  By yesterday, however, […]

For Oconee’s five municipalities, there’s reward money for which ever town picks up the most litter.  Janet Hartman, Destination Oconee Manager, announces a competition to decide which of the five can pick up the most litter.  Each town is to receive $500 dollars to be used to benefit its downtown.  The overall winner receives a $5 thousand re-imbursable grant toward a downtown […]

South Carolina DNR reports increased black bear activity across the state, some of that is in Oconee County.  If you live in areas where bears roam, DNR’s advice is to remove birdfeeders now.  Near Salem, one bear feasted on the honey in a backyard beehive.  It’s the breeding season that has the bears on the move.  Bears are hungry and […]