Author: Dick Mangrum

Today’s forecast is promising the thermometer will hit 50 degrees, but the cold this morning makes Walhalla Streetscape sidewalk work iffy, at best.  The plan for Hutch ‘n Son calls for a plastic cover over any concrete poured today for the new sidewalk on the south side of Main, from Ann to the Steak House.  Meantime, the sidewalk in that […]

Telephone booths and drive-in movie theatres have vanished across the American landscape.  So have small community hospitals.  The Oconee hospital medical staff and this year’s Leadership Oconee class are among groups who received presentations in the last week that touched on disappearing small hospitals.  The presenter, Hunter Kome, President of the GHS Oconee Medical Campus, makes the case when it […]

At 7:30 this morning, searchers will reassemble to start a second day of trying to find an Asheville, North Carolina area resident Scott Turner believed missing in the vicinity of Mountain Rest.  Family members found the man’s truckTuesday near the Cherry Hill/Big Bend area of northern Oconee.  Wind and extreme cold have hampered the search operations.  One searcher who walked […]

In 14 and a half years in the office of the Oconee Auditor, Christy Hubbard has worked alongside three auditors—Ken Nix, Linda Nix, and the late Ken Williams.  Hubbard, in declaring she will now run for auditor, says, “I was able to learn the functions of the office from the best of the best!  I have taken qualities, experience, and […]

Oconee’s two-term auditor is heading to the sidelines.  Ken Nix, a Republican, last night announced he will not offer this year for a third term in office.  In a statement, Nix said, “The two terms I have been blessed with take me into full retirement age.  I sincerely thank the citizens of Oconee County in supporting me as I strived […]

A judge told Tamassee-Salem supporter Lynn Martin she faces an uphill battle to win her court case against Oconee public school officials and the district, but he also indicated he’s impressed by some of her points.  With five rows of supporters behind her, Lynn Martin got her chance today to make her case for the continued operation of Salem’s remaining […]

Pockets of dirt areas have been etched out along the route of Walhalla Streetscape, but there’s no truth to a rumor that the state DOT won’t let the city have trees along the newly-laid sidewalks.  It’s a rumor that Dan Pollock, president of Partners for Progress, wants to put to rest.  Pollock says, “We are in the process of negotiating […]

Here’s the latest on the search of a missing man in northern Oconee County, as provided by the office of county Emergency Preparedness:  “Oconee County Emergency Services is currently working with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and Haywood County, NC Sheriff’s Office to locate an adult male that was reported missing over the weekend. The male’s vehicle was found late […]