Author: Dick Mangrum

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 […]

Oconee public schools are running this morning on time and on regular schedule. According to Dr. Mike Lucas, superintendent, it appears we missed the snow, but driving should be approached cautiously as water is still on some of the roads. The S.C. Department of Transportation has activated its online site for winter weather conditions. For current conditions, go to www.scdot.org […]

The U-S House Foreign Affairs Committee, whose members include S.C. Third District Congressman Jeff Duncan, takes testimony next week from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about last year’s terrorist attack on the U-S diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya. That attacked killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans: Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty. The Wednesday, January 23 hearing, […]

Two cars collided during heavy rain shortly before 10:30 this morning on the Flat Rock Road near Walhalla. One responder reported no injuries though, for a while, the road was blocked to traffic. One of the cars involved was pulling a trailer.  

The board for Pioneer Rural Water transacted business during its first meeting of 2013. At last week’s meeting, according to Chairman Jerry Barlow, the board moved forward with its intent to buy property within the county’s Golden Corner Commerce Park for the construction of the district’s first treatment plant. Contractors’ bids will be sought by the summer, he said. Pioneer […]

In spite of this week’s abundant rains, the Savannah River Basin drought remains ongoing. And this week District Commander Jeff Hall of the Army Corps of Engineers addressed the need to balance outflows during dry spells. “We updated our drought plan after a series of droughts. We also recently completed the 2012 Interim Drought Environmental Assessment. This assessment provides updated […]