Author: Dick Mangrum

The crowd that came out for the arrival yesterday of Westminster’s new police chief heard him make the following pledge.  Said Fred Miller, the new chief:  “I want to build the best police department in the state.”  Miller’s new employers, the Westminster City Council, were there to hear Miller make the following promise:  “I have an open-door policy.  Anything that […]

Of six hopefuls, three are deemed qualified and nominated to run.  And the list released by the South Carolina Judicial Merit Selection Commission includes the name of Letitia Verdin, Greenville resident formerly of Seneca.  A member of the state Court of Appeals, Verdin seeks to fill the open Seat #3 on the Supreme Court.  She, along with Blake Hewitt of […]

Besides the countless trees that have dropped to the ground, in some instances, blocking Oconee County roads, motor vehicle accidents have occurred this morning — including a rollover truck accident on north SC 11 near the intersection of the Little River Road.

The South Carolina DNR Fishing Rodeo takes place Saturday at the Piedmont Tree Nursery in Tamassee.  From 8 am to 1 pm, there’ll be fishing fun for kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult.  The young anglers should bring their own gear and equipment.  For more info, call 864/654-1671.

Changes to Walhalla downtown design guidelines is an agenda item next week for the city planning commission.  The commissioners meet at 5:30 Monday evening at city hall, and the public is invited.

Oconee County lost a lot of its greenery overnight.  The storms brought down trees, lots of them, according to county dispatch.  Fallen trees and closed roads have forced Stephens County, Georgia public schools to cancel classes today.

An event that’ll play out Saturday in Westminster will be the 26th time for a Community Plant Exchange.  The exchange starts promptly at 9 o’clock Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Westminster Baptist Church on Windsor Street.  If you are going, please bring perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, houseplants, bulbs, and water garden plants.  Extra plants may be placed […]

A Seneca woman with an ascending judicial career goes before a group of evaluators this morning in Columbia. Letitia Hamilton Verdin is one of six hopefuls to land a seat on the state Supreme Court.  And, thus, Verdin, currently a judge on the state Appeals Court, will close out two days of hearings conducted by the state Judicial Merit Selection […]

“SLED” agents have arrested a 20-year-old man wanted by Oconee County in an armed robbery investigation.  The arrest of Emmanuel Onious Williams, Seneca and Anderson addresses, occurred Tuesday in Pendleton.  He has since been transferred to the custody of the Oconee Sheriff’s Office. According to the sheriff’s office, the following charges have been placed:  armed robbery, disorderly conduct, petty larceny, […]

For mental health awareness, each May is considered a cornerstone to address challenges faced by millions who live with mental health conditions.  Dari McBride, executive director of the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, is drawing attention to the importance of this month.  In a chamber post, McBride says, “As Gen Xer – I am usually one who ‘sucks it up’ and […]