Author: Dick Mangrum

It’s time for Oconee schools to bring to the county council their budget for the next year of public schooling in the county.  But, as the school trustees were reminded last night, bottom line numbers remain uncertain due to the differing versions of state aid to be promulgated by the two legislative chambers at the state capital.  Yet it was […]

A commercial landmark in downtown Walhalla, referred to in the past as the city’s tallest building, has a new owner.  An Oconee builder of custom homes and remodeler, Robert T. Pierson, has confirmed to 101.7/WGOG NEWS that in a deal which closed about a week ago, he’s the new owner of the Main Street building that many remember as the […]

An EMS worker and two doctors were among opening day witnesses in the trial of South Carolina v. Mack Adam Gaines of Seneca.  Gaines is standing trial on the charge of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person, his 92-year old mother.  Alma Louise Gaines died in January 2018 in a hospice house, after having been admitted to the hospital […]

The state’s case against Mack Adam Gaines is set for a 2 o’clock start this afternoon in Oconee General Sessions Court.  At 58 years old in 2018, Games was arrested and charged with abuse of neglect resulting in the death of a vulnerable adult.  Authorities investigated the death of Alma Louise Gaines, 92, and decided the manner of death was […]

A 21-year old man was handed a 12-year prison terms today at the Oconee Coourthouse for failing to stop for a blue light resulting in death.  The victim nearly three years ago near Seneca was a woman who had gone to bed in her home.  A state trooper told the judge he could hear the cries of Vanessa Leanne Neimeyer […]

The presence of disease found in four streams in Pickens and Greenville counties has the state DNR worried that the whirling disease pathogen could cause 90% or greater mortality of young rainbow trout and have serious impacts to wild and hatchery trout populations.  The disease is caused by the microscopic parasite Myxobulus cerebralis, which damages cartilage and skeletal issue in […]

City Hall space is to be made available in Westminster to re-establish a chamber of commerce office in that city.  The announcement was made last week by the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, based near Seneca.  In the statement Crystal Romanyszyn, chamber director, said, “Our goal is to serve the business community along with residents and visitors more efficiently.  That is […]

After their Easter weekend, Oconee County Council is faced tomorrow with multi-spending propositions–as outlined by a seven-page agenda for the regular 6 o’clock meeting at Pine Street.  The county fathers get the school district’s request for 2022-23; before the council will be a $4 million allocation for work 18 miles of county roads; the staff recommends $750 thousand over three […]