Author: Dick Mangrum

Skeletal remains found behind a motel last year at Banks Crossing, Georgia have now been positively identified as those of an Oconee County, South Carolina man. The Banks County Sheriff’s office yesterday announced forensic tests have concluded the bones belong to Terry Lee Holbrooks, who lived in the Westminster- Fair Play area. So far, the cause of Holbrook’s death has […]

Members of Oconee County Council found out last night what it would take and what it would cost to double the weight of recyclable materials that are collected by the county’s solid waste operations.  It’s estimated that the county now separates as much as 30 percent of its solid waste to sell to recyclers.  Council Chairman Wayne McCall supports a […]

Multiple charges have been placed against a 58-year old man in Seneca after an attack on a neighbor in his apartment complex.  Police Chief John Covington says because of the suspect’s questionable status in the country, his department is asking the U-S Attorney’s Office and I.C.E.—Immigration Customs Enforcement—to review its case against Zenen Alvarez, 58 years old.  Early yesterday Seneca […]

Fire burned a home near Westminster during the storm that moved its way last night through Oconee County.  The storm brought down several trees.  Near Westminster on the Carver Road, not far from the Pickens Road, fire broke out in a home around 8 o’clock.  No one was hurt.  Fire fighters arrived within a few minutes and stayed there until […]

EMS and law enforcement in OconeeCounty apparently are dealing with increasing calls for mental health services.  Many of the calls eventually work their way to the Oconee Probate Court, where the authority to commit for care rests with the judge.  “Commitments are 126 so far this year.  I have done, myself, 46 detention orders,” Probate Judge Kenny Johns reciting the […]

A 16-year old girl died yesterday when she fell out of a zip line swing in the Sunset Community of Pickens County.  Gary Duncan, deputy coroner for PickensCounty, said the accident at 5:51 p-m proved fatal to Lakeland, Florida resident Olivia Paige Grimes.  The girl fell from the zip line swing at Carolina Point Camp on Pinnacle Point Lane in […]

At tonight’s meeting, West Union Town Council is scheduled to discuss and vote on the 2015 millage for the town’s tax rate.  A report is to be made on a turn light at the Main Street-SC 11 intersection.  Town Council meets at 6 o’clock at Town Hall.  

A Duke Energy representative arrived yesterday at the Walhalla Streetscape project.  Wiring is to be removed from the existing street lights.  Workers continue to lay electrical conduit and the changeover for the Bantam Chef will take place Sunday, so as not to interrupt business during regular work hours.  On the next block, from College to Catherine, work continues today to […]

Palmetto Conservation and the City of Walhalla later today celebrate a new partnership that will extend the cross-state trail into downtown Walhalla.  Mayor Danny Edwards is to be there at the announcement to receive a Palmetto Trail kiosk poster that illustrates the new terminus in downtown Walhalla.  The Palmetto Trail is considered a premier hiking and mountain biking pathway from […]

The efforts of a LakeHartwell corps ranger and bystander saved the lives of two boys after the pair struggled to swim from a remote buoy to the beach shoreline.  The incident occurred June 3 near the Singing Pines Recreation Area in OconeeCounty when park ranger Tim Crabtree noticed a dangerous situation and motioned for the pair to return to safe […]