Author: Dick Mangrum

Thanks to the art work of Bess Chipak, there’s a colorful way-finding mural on the wall of the Greater Walhalla Chamber of Commerce at 105 W. South Broad Street. The picturesque mural was commissioned by the Mountain Lakes CVB, which shares the chamber headquarters.

Congressman Jeff Duncan has invited a second gun-maker to consider re-locating to South Carolina. This time its Magpul Industries, located in Erie, Colorado. Magpul has vowed to leave Colorado if that state’s lawmakers pass a bill forbidding high-capacity magazines. Earlier Duncan, the second-term Republican lawmaker from Laurens, sent a letter to encourage the CEO of Remington Arms to leave New […]

Saluda County may be first, but Oconee apparently is not far behind. The state’s broadband initiative, “About Connect South Carolina”, has announced Saluda County is the first South Carolina county to complete its connected community broadband assessment and technology action plan. Last night the Oconee County Council awarded a contract to a Greer company for the final six miles of […]

In spite of some bone-chilling temperatures of late, Walhalla Chamber of Commerce officials promise city leaders better times are ahead. The chamber hopes this year’s Mayfest will create a friendly and prosperous two days for all involved. Vanessa Penton, chamber executive director, announced at City Hall last night the 2013 event will run Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11. […]

Westminster’s Bibb Street, the home of the annual Apple Festival rodeo, is in for change. City Council last night awarded J-Davis Construction a contract worth $371, 810 to construct the city’s new utilities warehouse at 528 S. Bibb Street. J-Davis’s bid was second lowest received, but the city administrator said the low bid did not comply. City Administrator David Smith […]

Westminster City Council passed up a chance last night to break what is, in effect, a tie among member cities of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority and decide whether neighboring Seneca, the system’s major user, gets additional representation on the authority board. “Consider Seneca’s Request for Additional Representation” was listed as #8 agenda item for the council’s regular February meeting. […]

Walhalla and Westminster are on their way to have Oconee County take charge of the conduct of their municipal elections. At separate meetings last night, the city councils gave the first of two required readings to ordinances transferring elections’ authority to the county Voter Registration and Election Commission. Walhalla City Administrator Nancy Goehle said her city will be still be […]

Additional charges have been filed against a woman accused in a series of telephoned bomb threats this month in the Seneca area. Campus police at Clemson have announced two felony counts of making a bomb threat against Melissa Ann Griggs. The 38-year old Griggs was served with the warrants at the Oconee Detention Center, where she has been held since […]

The police say two Seneca residents were arrested today in a drug bust, in which a K-9 was used to detain one suspect who ran. Qawi Aziz Kabir, formerly Michael Bernard Christian, and Gladys Rafiah Elmore were charged with trafficking crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The police say Kabir was also charged with resisting arrest when […]

At Duke’s request, the electric utility and the NRC will be holding monthly meetings to cover safeguards against flooding at the Oconee Nuclear Station. An NRC spokesman told 96.3/WGOG NEWS: “They have asked for monthly meetings with the NRC staff to ensure that we are aware of how they are proceeding and provide guidance as needed.” Today’s meeting at NRC […]