Author: Dick Mangrum

On the kickoff day for Walhalla Oktoberfest, an event helps create the mood for three days of fun to mark the city’s founding by German settlers.  It’s that luncheon under a large Sertoma Field tent.  Luncheon sponsor Walhalla Rotary Club announces the proceeds from this year’s $20 dollar a plate meal will go to O. A. R. S. (Oconee Addiction […]

Dot’s Kitchen, the United Way, and the Rosa Clark Medical Clinic are among local charities for which workers at the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative raised thousands of dollars.  In all, the Blue Ridge employee days of giving campaign raised $80 thousand for nine local charities.  They elected to make a one-time gift or contribute 12 working hours of pay.  Blue […]

Amanda Brock, Oconee County administrator, made good last night on an earlier promise.  At county council’s September 3rd meeting, District Three’s Don Mize asked for an accounting of what Oconee County has spent, so far, in defense of the lawsuit challenging the county’s $25 million bond issue.  And the response came last night when, at the starting of the meeting, […]

Oconee financial crime investigators learned of a scam in which threats were made by email.  According to the county sheriff’s office, the scammer notified the victim that Spyware was placed on the victim’s phone and told that Spyware provided access to emails, contacts and social media accounts.  The scammer wanted payment in Bitcoin through a link in the email.  And […]

Before Oconee County endorses a government grant for a private Mountain Rest group, the county fathers will request an opinion from the state’s legal beagles in Columbia.  County Council last night postponed the consideration of a state grant for the Chattooga Lake Club.  The council put the brakes on a grant application to the state Department of Environmental Services after […]

Apparently, not all young people are aware that making school threats can mean facing criminal charges.  The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is aware of more than 60 threats targeting schools throughout 23 counties since September 4 — the day of the Winder, Georgia high school shootings.  Many of the South Carolina threats appear to be shared between students […]

Oconee County property tax bills should be ready for the U-S mail by October 1.  County Council last night approved the projections of Auditor Christy Hubbard.  Overall, tax millage – the formula used to base what taxpayers owe – will remain the same for another year – although Hubbard pointed out millage for school operations will increase by 1.4. Tax […]

Justin Powell, South Carolina transportation chief, is visiting DOT maintenance offices in all counties and spreading the word about the new law on driver awareness around highway construction zones.  Governor McMaster late last month signed the Construction Work Zone Driver’s License Training bill. The Department of Motor Vehicles must now have online materials that present testimonials and information on the […]

A company in the business of poultry equipment attracted a large crowd for its Oconee County grand opening.  One month in operation, the Meyn (pronounced Mine), is in a sprawling new building on the backside of the county’s Industry and Technology Park on highway 11.  Technology plays a big part in the operation, as 25 workers will use robotic equipment […]