Author: Dick Mangrum

The South Carolina DOT commissioners updated their bridge program today, to reflect an extra $200 million approved in the new state budget.  The current program is $239 million, so the additional state funds increase the total program for bridge replacements and rehabilitation for the coming year to $439 million.  The statewide list shows Oconee County for five bridge projects, four […]

  AQD – Advocates for Quality Development – applaud Oconee’s decision to change the change the county code addressing minimum lot size and maximum lot density.  A large audience was there Tuesday night when the county council, in a 4-0 vote, gave the final OK to ordinance 2024-18.  The AQD’s Gary Owens says, “I think it’s a significant move forward […]

Attorneys in the prosecution and the defense of accused drug law violators are gathered at the Oconee Courthouse for a day of handling South Carolina state grand jury indictments.  The Attorney’s General spokesman says several cases are to be handled today that arose from two initiatives:  Rocket Fuel and Prison Empire.

Heavy fire damage to a parked car near Walhalla.  According to the city fire department, the fire burned a Cadillac parked yesterday on a Rock Crusher Road driveway.  A bystander required medical attention for smoke inhalation.

Duke Energy seeks a special exception to construct a new communications tower 60 feet higher than Oconee County rules.  At 7805 Rochester Highway, SC 130, Duke will ask the county board of zoning appeals for the exception during a 6 o’clock meeting Monday night at the county’s administrative offices in Walhalla.  Under Oconee rules, there is a 250-foot height limit […]

Northeast Georgia is considered in a moderate drought.  And one of its counties bordering Oconee — Franklin County — is asking its water customers to conserve.  The cut back through August 31 is directed at watering lawns, filling swimming pools, and washing cars.  Lake Hartwell Radio WLHR at Lavonia reports June was the 8th driest in Franklin County in 130 […]

Coroner Karl Addis has ruled the death of a Walhalla man an accidental drowning.  An autopsy took place yesterday. Divers on Tuesday pulled Scott Lamar Price from 12 to 15 feet of water from Lake Hartwell near the Hart’s Cove apartments.  At the time Price, according to Addis, was trying to swim across a cove, but went under.  Price was […]

The squabble over the proceeds from a $25M Oconee County general obligation bond issue is in the hands of a circuit judge, after attorneys for both sides made pre-trial motions this afternoon in in the Common Pleas Court.  Tenth Circuit Judge McIntosh intends to read a number of old cases that the attorneys cite in arguments for their positions.  On […]

Explanation is made as to why a beer truck was backed up yesterday to the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Station.  According to CSFD’s Facebook page, the department was awarded a grant that provides for a one-year supply of drinking water — courtesy of a partnership between Anheuser Busch and the National Volunteer Fire Council.  This is a seen as a way for […]