Author: Dick Mangrum

The civil lawsuit is docketed first for trial next month in the Common Pleas Court, but last night the Oconee County Council made a move toward settling the case which has been pending since the last seven years.  It’s the one David Stokes filed alleging wrongful termination from his county building official job.  After a closed-door meeting last night with […]

Westminster’s Juneteenth celebration capped off with the announcement of the first recipient of the city’s Juneteenth Award of Excellence.  The award, made possible by Blue Ridge Bank, denotes excellence.  And, as the presenter, Cassie Moore, began to describe the winner many in the luncheon audience quickly realized it was going to the city’s tireless and long-time recreation director, Herb Poole.  […]

Project code-named “Turn” has turned into a large investment by Sandvik near Westminster, and it’s continued proof of the love affair between the Swedish-based cutting tools operation and Oconee County.  Officially announced this morning, Sandvik is making a $29 million investment.  Jamie Gilbert of Oconee Economic Alliance says no new jobs are being added, but Sandvik is committed to modernizing […]

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, […]