Author: Dick Mangrum

Applause rang out at Saturday’s Oconee Democratic Party meeting for three members in honor of February as Black History Month. “Black History month stories generally focus on nationally famous people,” said Rosellen Aleguire, chair, Oconee Democratic Party. “We felt it important to honor three of our own.” Those three are Dr. Al Gaines, Seneca; Beverly Jenkins, West Union; and Bonnie […]

The Academy Awards will be presented this week and two Clemson professors have reason to cling to the remotes just a little tighter when the winners are called. Jerry Tessendorf, director of Clemson’s Master of Fine Arts in Digital Productions Arts program, and Robert Geist, program co-founder and professor in the School of Computing, both developed software used for visual […]

A pickup truck, stolen late last week from the parking lot of a Westminster drug store, remains unaccounted for today, but the police chief says an active investigation into the theft remains in progress. Chief Dean Awalt says the 1994 two-tone green Ford F-150 displayed a South Carolina tag of 4-9-6-F-G and contained someone’s personal papers. According to Awalt, the […]

The public should be watching and listening for a South Carolina statewide test of its tornado alert system. The drill is planned for approximately 9 o’clock Tuesday morning, March 5. Television and radio stations, such as 96.3/WGOG, will participate through the activation of the EAS and a message from the National Weather Service, explaining that it is a test only. […]

A Clemson student pursuing a graduate’s degree is getting real-world experience as an intern at the office of Oconee Economic Development. Kirsten Pratt was introduced during Friday’s meeting of the Economic Development Commission. She joins an office staff of Richard Blackwell, executive director, and Russell Johnson, project and marketing manager.

Congressman Jeff Duncan chaired his first hearing of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency. Friday’s hearing addressed the Department of Homeland Security’s progress and shortcomings in implementing various missions and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently.

A Heritage Corridor grant, worth $12,500, is headed the way of the project to develop Old St. John’s Meeting House in Walhalla. Kim Paradeses, fiscal analyst for the S-C Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, notified the Rev. Frank Strickland, project manager, that the grant is awarded and work may begin. Two of the 12 pews needed for the building […]

A late night home fire inside the protection service territory of the Oakway Volunteer Fire Department. The fire occurred on Grove Creek Drive and no one was reported injured. The call came at 10:22. Fire fighters from Oakway, Westminster, South Union and Fair Play responded. The last set of fire fighters remained at the scene until shortly after 12:30 a-m.

The observance of President’s Day is an official holiday today, meaning regular county and state offices are closed. That includes the county’s libraries and the courthouse. Public schools are running on regular schedule, and the county school board of trustees holds its regular February meeting beginning at 6 tonight at district headquarters.

The Cherokee Museum of South Carolina on Short Street in Walhalla is set for an official opening Friday, May 10, according to an announcement today by Luther Lyle, museum curator.