Author: Dick Mangrum

Usually this time of the year Westminster raises its retail electric power charge—once it gets word from its regional supplier that its wholesale charge is going up. But not this year. At the recommendation last night of first-year city administrator Jeff Lord, the city council adopted a new rate schedule that avoids a 4% wholesale increase this year from Piedmont […]

A large crowd assembled in Walhalla, near the corner of Main and S. Tugaloo, late on the work day partly to symbolize hope that in the future the core business district downtown will enjoy greater commerce and activity. Some of the city’s leaders put on hard hats and reflective jackets for the groundbreaking for Streetscape. Building and parking lot owner […]

A former car dealership employee has been arrested and charged with taking $3,951.86 worth of checks from her workplace and converting them to her own use. The Sheriff’s Office announced forgery and breach of trust with fraudulent intent charges against Pamela Gail Rogers (Blackwell). An arrest affidavit alleges the crime occurred December 3 at Lake Keowee Chrysler Dodge. Investigators say […]

Running and bicycle events this weekend in Oconee County will affect the normal flow of motorized traffic, and officials are asking the public to be especially careful in the vicinity of these visiting athletes. The USA Triathlon NCAA national championships and the 2015 Color Run are coming to the Clemson/Seneca area. The inside lanes of US 76/123 and SC 93 […]

Ken Sloan, president/CEO of Mountain Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau in Oconee County, is on board with Walhalla’s efforts to re-vitalize the downtown with its Streetscape project. And Sloan points to an important part of the project—-a 5 o’clock ceremony downtown this afternoon. Sloan is pushing the interests of Oconee recreation and tourism supporters for a re-branding of the county […]

An Oconee jury started hearing testimony this morning in a General Sessions Court trial in which the defendant, Wilbur Rickmon, is charged with kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct first degree. Rickmon’s accuser, a young female neighbor, was the first prosecution witness. In an opening statement to the jury, Assistant Solicitor Lindsey Simmons said the victim thought she was going to […]

Oconee County unemployment last month dropped to 5.8%—from February’s rate of 6.4%. According to the state’s counters, there was an addition of 365 people to the county’s employed labor force. The work picture statewide showed a slight increase in the jobless rate—from 6.6% percent to 6/7%. But the Department of Employment and Workforce reports the number of South Carolinians working […]

Walhalla has recorded temperature extremes during the last 24 hours. The thermometer topped out at 74 for the high temperature, a cool 42 for the low, and an additional three-fourths of an inch of rain on the already-saturated grounds. Official Weather Observer Barbara Wilson watched yesterday as pea-sized hail pelted the County Seat between 1 and 3 yesterday afternoon. The […]

At tonight’s meeting of Walhalla City Council, Councilman Tjay Bagwell has signaled that he will make a motion for the city to pay the costs for the bands in this year’s Mayfest, sponsored by the chamber of commerce. The bill for the music is calculated at $2,650. The minutes from council’s April work session, however, show that Councilman David Underwood […]