Author: Dick Mangrum

The Marines make their annual entry into Oconee County the week of June 19 for R-and-R—rest and relaxation.  The police and more than 200 motorcycles decorated with patriotic colors and flags will provide the escort for a parade that starts in Easley, makes its way thru Liberty, Norris, Central, Clemson and, finally, onto 123 into Oconee County.  At Seneca’s East […]

Congressman Jeff Duncan declares that the country and especially the South Carolina 3rd District are better off without the seven-year law that was designed to protect consumers and avert another financial catastrophe like the one in 2008.  Republican Duncan was in the majority for the House repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act and the approval of its replacement the Financial Choice […]

The once-in-a-life phenomenon that will be this summer’s total eclipse of the sun will be the topic for a Duke World of Energy program next week in Oconee County.  A former NASA scientist, Myles Standish, will make a free lecture on the upcoming eclipse.  The program starts at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning.  Standish’s presentation is expected to be informative and […]

A Seneca advisory committee recommended funding yesterday to meet the requests of two groups for promotions and events.  The committee recommended “ATAX” money in the amount of $1,200 dollars to the Downtown Seneca Merchants Association to print passport-type documents for merchants to track visitors to their businesses.  The Seneca Woman’s Club is in line for $1,500 to stage Spooky Tales […]

Schools are out and the temperature appears headed up to reflect summer.  And Oconee’s Phil Shirley is feeling the start of the season as much as anyone.  This weekend, for example, he says, county park campsites are reserved and hotels can expect higher occupancies.  Shirley, the director of Oconee Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is welcoming visitors to enjoy the outdoor […]

A sunlit sky turns pitch dark in the middle of the day as the moon moves between the Earth and the sun: a total solar eclipse. The last time such an eclipse occurred over Clemson was June 24, 1778. Now, 239 years later, Clemson University researchers prepare for the Aug. 21 coast-to-coast eclipse. The path of totality is about 70 miles […]

A Walhalla councilman stressed today he holds no hard feelings toward his colleagues, but he will renew his request to make a water rate increase part of the city’s next utilities budget.  Councilman Tjay Bagwell on Tuesday proposed a $3 dollar increase on the base rate for water, but could tell that the rest of the council was of no […]

State Law Enforcement Division agents are investigating an incident last evening in which a man sustained a non-life threatening gun shot wound in a confrontation with an Anderson County deputy.  The deputy responded to a burglary call.  SLED considers its involvement in the case as an independent investigation, requested by the agency involved that will include interviews along with the […]

It’s time for Oconee school trustees to have a look again at the contract of their superintendent.  The annual evaluation and the contract of Dr. Michael Thorsland are matters reserved for the executive session part of Monday’s board meeting in Walhalla.  As the result of last year’s evaluation, Thorsland’s salary was set at $141,831 dollars and one year was added […]

The remains of a decomposed male found yesterday in a wooded area are believed to be those of missing Pickens County resident Gabriel Bradley Hein.  In the search, Pickens sheriff’s officers used cadaver dogs in finding the remains in a remote, wooded area about one-half mile from the Sunset Community home of the 28-year old Hein.  He was last seen […]