Author: Dick Mangrum

On 437 acres near Salem, a Greenville man is pursuing a project—the likes of which are unprecedented in Oconee County.  Russ Gardiner shared his plans Monday with the county Planning Commission for his Equus Club at Lake Keowee offering winemaking, equestrian, and culinary.  Gardiner plans to have grapes crushed in California’s rich wine country, truck the juice across country to […]

On the south side of Walhalla’s Main Street, new sidewalk is open from Tugaloo to Catherine streets.  The contractor today plans to grade for the sidewalk across Main Street, on the north side.  Workers are pulling electrical wire for the businesses that will receive underground power. As for the entire project, Mayor Edwards told city council last night that, “We’re still […]

Walhalla leaders took planning to a new level during their September meeting last night at City Hall.  They coupled the acceptance of an updated comprehensive plan, with a vote to commission a national planning and design company to undertake what’s believed to be Wahalla’s first master plan.  Mayor Danny Edwards believes the master plan is important because it can give […]

The Oconee County administrator has been given final approval to hire a staff attorney, to be answerable to the administrator.  That approval came last night on a 3-2 vote of the County Council.  With the action, the council relinquishes its annual authority of approving a county attorney.  And two councilmen—Joel Thrift and Reg Dexter—believe that’s a mistake.  Other council members […]

An investigation of an assault early yesterday at West Union led to a traffic stop in Seneca and the eventual arrests of two men.  One of those two men was charged with stealing drugs from a third man.  The Oconee Sheriff’s Office announced charges of common law robbery – strong armed robbery and assault and battery first degree against Gregory […]

Pickens County requested the help of the Salem Fire Department during a fire call late last night at The Reserve, a Lake Keowee home development.  According to Oconee Fire Dispatch, Salem fire fighters were requested to man Pickens County’s Shady Grove Fire Station during a fire that broke out in the clubhouse at the home development.

Members of the Partners for Progress have settled on the answer to a Streetscape question about which there had been doubt.  The Main Street medians, even reduced in size, will still be large enough to support some trees.  Dan Pollock, Partners president, says, “It’s just going to be a case of the smaller medians will have a less number of […]

In the 13th Circuit Court, Greenville and Pickens counties, a public defender was named today to represent a defendant charged with computer crimes.  According to the Solicitor’s Office, Melissa M. Grey is charged with computer crimes related to the sale of fraudulent football tickets involving Clemson, the University of South Carolina and other colleges.