Author: Dick Mangrum

Indications are Monday’s meeting of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority will come and go—without a vote on sewer for Golden Corner Commerce Park. From what 96.3/WGOG NEWS has been told, a couple of members will miss Monday’s meeting, and there’s some indication the JRSA won’t tackle the vote until its member cities—Walhalla and Westminster—submit the proposed contract to their […]

A former Walhalla teacher and wrestling coach, Richard (Trey) Gardner III, of Kershaw, remains in Oconee jail today, under a bond of $73 thousand. According to a sheriff’s department announcement, the 39-year old Gardner is charged with 11 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and 13 counts of lewd act on a minor, as part of a month-long […]

Oconee sheriff’s officers have arrested a 43-year old man in their investigation of a storage building burglary that victimized an officer of the Salem Fire Department. Law enforcement reports Jerry Eugene Poole of Beverly Road, Salem charged with grand larceny and burglary third degree – first offense – in crimes between August 1 and September 24 on n. highway 11. […]

Oconee School District has confirmed that a man arrested by the sheriff’s department in a case of alleged sex crimes worked in the district as late as eight years ago. Dr. Mike Lucas, county superintendent, said the man arrested, Kershaw resident Richard Onley Gardner III, worked as an Oconee school district teacher and coach between 1995 and 2005. Lucas declined […]

Leaf lookers hoping to see a symphony of fall color at its most vibrant may want to get a head start. Victor Shelburne, a Clemson teacher specializing in forest ecology, sees signs that peak autumn color may arrive a bit early this year to the Carolinas. “There are good sourwood, blackgum and dogwood reds appearing in the Piedmont. The Jocassee […]

An Oconee man instrumental in organizing the county’s first scenic highway committee will serve in a similar capacity at a statewide level. Governor Nikki Haley last summer appointed J-Harold Thomas, a former county councilman, to the S.C. Scenic Highway Committee. Thomas last night said he’s still awaits attending his first meeting.

For two dozen years, Oconee’s economic development business has been her business. But, now, Thelma Miller is retiring as administrative assistant at the county office of economic development. She takes with her fond memories of her time, dating back to the late Bob Gaillard’s long run as county economic development director all the way to the present and the time […]

An architect’s plan to convert parts of Walhalla’s historic Keowee Courier into homes for senior citizens failed to win approval during a city regulatory board’s meeting last night at City Hall. After a public hearing, the board of zoning appeals voted to deny the variance sought by project promoter Lori Sons. A handful of speakers last night expressed degrees of […]

Oconee sheriff’s officers have arrested a 39-year old Kershaw, South Carolina man on 24 charges alleging child sex crimes. Law enforcement records identify the man arrested as Richard Onley Gardner III. According to today’s booking report from the Oconee Detention Center, Gardner is accused in 13 cases alleging committing or attempting lewd act on a child under 16 (June 4, […]

A late night raid at a Seneca home led to two arrests, and what the police say were the seizures of illegal drugs, firearms, stolen property, and U-S currency. Chief John Covington says two residents at 308 Pine Street were arrested. According to Covington, five warrants were served on Millard Jerome Strickland and four on Hollie Michelle Henderson. Narcotics officers […]