Author: Dick Mangrum

No one has actually signed anything as yet, but optimism continues to grow that Sewer South is close to reality. The project to sewer Oconee’s Golden Corner Commerce Park on highway 59 and extend piped sewer to  other parts of the southern end of the county have been the focus of years of meetings and a good share of contentious […]

The irony of last night’s spectacle was not lost on Scott Moulder.  The second-year Oconee County administrator said the large turnout for last night’s County council meeting by the county’s emergency services staff and the many volunteers who make up the volunteer rescue, HAZMAT, fire department and other emergency services was a sign of today’s better relations betweenPine Streetand those […]

9/5/12 0630   Oconee County Council chose to raise school taxes to offset a lower than anticipated Duke Energy tax payment for 2012. The council vote last night was 4 to 1, with Wayne McCall opposed. The council acted after an appeal by County Superintendent Mike Lucas to remember the children and consideration of four scenarios, as outlined by Auditor […]

For its Apple Festival luncheon this week, the Westminster Rotary Club will roll out the welcome mat for a state leader with a reputation for building bi-partisan support within the House of Representatives in Columbia. Speaker for the 1 o’clock luncheon Friday in the Social Hall of the Westminster Baptist Church will be South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell. Meal […]

A 53-year old Salem man has been arrested in the investigation of a car stolen more than two months ago from a parking space at the Seneca Wal-Mart. According to Oconee Sheriff’s Department records, Richard Claude Dills was arrested Saturday and charged with grand larceny. Dills had been listed a suspect in the department’s investigation of the June 27 theft […]

Clemson University is in the business of higher education. A new study suggests that, as an off-shoot of its primary objective, the university creates millions in economic benefits. That new study, announced today, finds more than $1.8 billion in economic output, nearly 25 thousand jobs and a net return to the state taxpayers of nearly $77 and a half million […]

A rainy Monday has produced its share of auto accidents, including a pair of crashes in Oconee County causing injuries. Both of them occurred within minutes of the other. Shortly before 8 a.m., an accident with injuries was reported on Robins Farm Road near the Highlands Highway. At 8:42 a.m., the patrol was sent to investigate an accident near Seneca, […]

The state has decided it will replace an Oconee County country bridge that helps move traffic to the West Union area. But, the question is when. Mike Smith, resident maintenance engineer for the DOT, says he has yet to hear when the project to replace the Burns Mill Road Bridge will go to bid. In the meantime, that means the […]

Groups of Democratic Party faithful from Oconee intend to be spectators at the national party convention this week in Charlotte. Rosellen Aleguire, county party chairwoman, says no one from the county party is serving as a delegate to the convention, but she described several groups of county residents who want to be present Thursday night for what’s expected to be […]

Expect Oconee County Council to pay close attention tonight to one of the county’s elected officials. Auditor Ken Nix is to announce the levy to be required to fund council’s approved budgets for 2012-13. Depending on the effect of an anticipated lower payment from number one taxpayer, Duke Energy, the council might have to do some adjusting to make ends […]