Author: Dick Mangrum

Rush Thrift has become the third generation employee at the Seneca-family based business Thrift Development.  He’s the oldest son of Gary Thrift, president of Thrift Development, and grandson of the company founder, the late Glenn Thrift.  Rush Thrift will work as vice president and general counsel.  He started work as an associate attorney in the insurance defense firm Laney and […]

School Choice is now open across the Oconee School district for the 2017-18 year.  Parents may request that their children may enroll inschool in any of the attendance areas—provided there are no behavior or attendance issues at their current schools.  Based on available space, the decision to grant School Choice is up to the principal.  To sign up for School […]

  A new mobile health clinic van, belonging to the Sullivan Center at Clemson University, will make its first stop in Walhalla on Friday.  Nurse practitioner Megan Kyle says the Sullivan Center is excited to carry out its mission of providing free health services to areas that are under-served when it comes to medical care.  The solar-powered van, with what […]

In front of Seneca Council, there was recognition last night for the completed, multi-million dollar renovation project of the city’s water plant at Lake Keowee.  Bob Faires, utilities director, called attention to the receipt of an environmental certification awarded to the administrative building, along with an area environmental group’s naming of Seneca’s Steve Fletcher as operator of the year.  In […]

Four Westminster elected leaders were in Columbia yesterday for training courses at the offices of the State Municipal Association.  Taking part were Mayor Brian Ramey and council members Bill Brockington, Susan Ramey, and Ronald Dotson.  Mayor Ramey says, “Today is Legislative Action Day.”  

One year later, everything is not perfect with Oconee’s $16 million jail.  But Sheriff Mike Crenshaw says, “Overall, the new jail is serving our needs, providing for greater security for my staff and I believe better security for those detained or sentenced….”   Crenshaw has listed four features as examples of what’s going well: 1.       We now have an operational Inmate […]

  Several years ago Seneca identified JC Penny and Panera Bread among the retail and restaurants that it desired for its city.  Last night word came that the city will pursue a market study of its downtown—a document that the planning and community development director says can be useful to developers to send to their lenders.  Ed Halbig told the […]

Ronald Reagan was still President of the United States when Mike Smith became City Attorney for Seneca.  The inevitable creep of age is sending Smith to the retirement sideline.  Last night at City Hall Smith announced he will transition into retirement as the city’s legal counsel effective July 1 and, eventually, will retire as practicing private attorney in the city.  […]