Author: Dick Mangrum

   For most people, conservation brings to mind waterfalls and mountain views. For 45 Oconee landowners, elected officials and activists gathered at Tokeena Angus Farms, Saturday the focus was on farms. Van Whitehead, Deputy Director of Upstate Forever, addressed the what, why, and how to use conservation easements. “Many people really want to preserve their family farms as farms, not […]

The check that was in the mail arrived and  now is deposited into the Oconee County treasury of funds. Oconee’s number one taxpayer, Duke Energy, met its annual obligation to the county, this time by sending a check for some $27 million. The check, dated January 14, arrived in time to avoid a three percent late penalty that went into […]

Clemson trustees delegated powers today to Provost Doris Helms to be chief executive of the university while President James Barker is on medical leave. Barker was scheduled today for heart surgery at Greenville Memorial Hospital for a triple bypass to treat blockages discovered yesterday during a heart cauterization. It is expected he will be in the hospital, with visitation limited […]

While sewer spills were found within both the Clemson and Walhalla collector systems, the county system apparently escaped, although tested. Bob Winchester of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority said five inches of rain fell this week during a three-day period at the Seneca plant. Winchester said, so far, he’s aware of no spills. Doing its job was that near one-year-old […]

NRC commissioner William Magwood speaks at 2:30 this afternoon at Clemson University’s Brackett Hall room 100. Magwood’s topic will be “Nuclear Power: A Regulatory Perspective Post-Fukushima.”

South Carolina’s jobless rate increased slightly to 8.4% in December from 8.3% in November, but a corresponding increase was higher in Oconee County. Oconee’s unemployment rolls stood at 9% last month, a .04% increase from November. An economist advised an Oconee County meeting last week to remember that when unemployment hits 10%, the economy can take solace in knowing that, […]

An historian will address a Seneca luncheon next month to help mark the city’s observance of Black History Month. From the state Historic Preservation Office, Rebekah Dobrasko will tell how a little-remembered school building campaign had a large impact on an attempt by South Carolina to equalize its dual public school systems, one for whites and one for blacks. The […]

Around 8 o’clock last night Oconee Medical Center entered a new era, as  dues-paying members of the hospital association voted to disband. The action allows OMC to become a non-membership, not-for-profit corporation. In place of votes by the association membership, the board of directors will choose its future members, with the help of a nominating committee. According to Dr. Bill […]

City of Walhalla has issued a public notice to residents of Shadybrook Drive and Warner Mill. Several manholes are flooded. Those in those two areas should avoid contact with the streams until flood conditions have passed. Walhalla is monitoring the water quality of the streams and will make further announcements. At Clemson, a sewer overflow occurred during a three-hour period […]