Author: Dick Mangrum

Authorities are trying to determine the cause for last night’s fire that displaced at least one person in southern Oconee. Chris Smith, county fire chief, says the damage was heavy to a mobile home on Sweetbriar Trail, south of the Blackjack Road.  The first set of firefighters to reach the scene during the midnight hour encountered fire burning in about […]

June is a popular month for matrimony.  In South Carolina, the Department of Revenue does not want to stand in the way of anyone’s bliss.  But it issues these cautionary words:  If you’re recently married or planning to tie the knot in 2024, spend some time making important tax-related decisions with your new spouse.  Discuss your filing status now, both […]

Veteran Frankie Pearson scolded Oconee County Council members for failing to attend this year’s Memorial Day ceremony, an annual event that serves as the county’s remembrance of the 210 Oconee men who died during war.  Pearson took note of who from the county last month attended and who did not.  He said the only elected official he saw was the […]

A Georgia judge has appointed Beth Darnell, chief deputy of the Rabun County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office, in-charge during the suspension of the county’s sheriff, Chad Nichols.  Facing criminal charges, Nichols was recently suspended on order of Governor Kemp.

A midnight hour home fire south of the Blackjack Road in Oconee County.  No injuries reported at the fire scene:  Sweetbriar Trail.  The last of the fire fighting units finished just before 3:30 this morning.

“No glaring errors that we saw.”  A Department of Homeland Security employee made the assessment to the Oconee County Council last night in an analysis of voting security locally.  At the request of the state elections’ director, Keith Jones of Homeland Security has inspected the 46 county election offices.  Some of the counties have been told to replace their offices […]

City of Walhalla announced late last night the restoration of water service to a wide swath of customers in the vicinity of Sc 28 and Halfway Branch.  A boil advisory, however, remains in effect for the customers impacted until early tomorrow.  The following sections of the service territory are under the advisory: Tanglewood, Tanglewood Middle, Park Ridge, Deer Park, Avondale, […]

Jessica Yingst has coached students who have struggled in school.  Now Yingst will transition from a coach of MTSS — Multi-Tiered System of Supports — to be the new assistant principal at Fair-Oak Elementary School. Her new assignment was approved during last night’s meeting of the county school trustees.  Yingst is a nine-year employee of the Oconee School District.

The campaign to elect Sheri Biggs to congress announces that seven county sheriffs across the 3rd District are endorsing her.  One of the seven is Oconee Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  The campaign quotes him as noting that Biggs is an Oconee resident and has shown unwavering support for law enforcement.

The police in Seneca say they answered a call of gunfire at the Field Village apartments. Chief Bowling said, “We had a juvenile fight there last night.  There was a report of a gun being fired, but no one hurt.  It is still being investigated.”