Author: Dick Mangrum

A committee of Oconee County Council meets next week to continue discussions on allowing private developers to take over the old courthouse and build a 55-room hotel. John Powell confirmed to 96.3/WGOG NEWS today that he and his partner asked for another meeting of the county’s real estate, facilities and land management committee. Powell is optimistic, including being confident that […]

Just because Covidien is closing its Seneca plant doesn’t mean the plant’s suppliers are out of luck. Over the next three years, work on all products made by the Seneca plant is being moved to the Central America country of Costa Rica. Megan Mulusky, operations controller for Covidien’s vascular therapies in Marshfield, Massachusetts, says, “Our project team will implement a […]

October 15 is the filing deadline for those with an extension of time to file their 2011 individual income tax returns and the S.C. Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers of their refund options. Taxpayers will receive an income tax refund prepaid debit card unless they designate on their tax return to receive a paper check or direct deposit. Only […]

Just two days after Congress left Washington, the S.C. 3rd District congressman makes an appearance in Walhalla. The Associated Press reports the just-concluded session left Congress frustrated over what’s seen as one of the least productive sessions in history. If Congressman Jeff Duncan, the Laurens Republican can use some direction, he may get it today during his speaking engagement at […]

The Oconee Chamber of Commerce-sponsored “Steak in Oconee” dinner takes place one week from tonight on the grounds of the county’s Golden Corner Commerce Park. At 6:30 Monday night, October 1, the dinner takes place on the eve of the start of the three-day Carolina Foothills Heritage Fair, also on the grounds of the Golden Corner park. Sandra Jones of […]

Oconee Sheriff’s officers reported minor injuries in a late afternoon accident yesterday on the Radio Station Road near Seneca. According to Chief Deputy Terry Wilson, a car pulling out onto the road from Applewood Shopping Center collided with a second vehicle. Wilson said the impact spun the second vehicle into the path of a state trooper’s vehicle.

Oconee Nuclear Station conducts a series of siren tests Wednesday (September 26) between 8 a-m and 4 p-m in both Oconee and Pickens counties. The test is in addition to the normal siren test schedule listed in the 2012 emergency planning calendar and results from an upgrade in the siren system. The 65 alert notification sirens within a ten-mile radius […]

A dinner meeting last night at Seneca High School promoted agriculture as an important segment of the Oconee County economy and featured discussion as to how to increase production and sales. Seneca’s FFA instructor Christina Alexander helped host the meeting and Tokeena farmer Gwen McPhail was one of its leading organizers. Alexander says the turn out was impressive. Among the […]

The state reports improvement in the Oconee County job picture between July and August. The percentage of Oconeeans who were out of work but who are attempting to get back to work fell from 10.4% in July to 10% in August. The state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 9.6% in August. At 10%, Oconee remains about mid-way in […]

New data reveal that South Carolina women are paid less than men in every part of the state. The National Partnership for Women and Families says the Census Bureau data released yesterday make for an unprecedented analysis showing that the gender-based wage gap affects women in every corner of the state. It’s the first time that the data breakdown what […]