Author: Dick Mangrum

Those utility rate increases that are going to cause Walhalla customers to dig deeper were a big topic during a city hall meeting that stretched to two and one-half hours.  And there were some in the audience who wanted to hear what the mayor and the council would say.  The consensus from the meeting room table, however, was that as […]

Average to above-average rainfall in December and January has led to the declaration that all South Carolina counties are drought-free.  The state’s drought response committee yesterday removed the incipient drought designation of 34 counties, which had been a concern for wildfires.  But, according to the state forestry commission, the wildfire threat has diminished over the past 30 days.  Hope Mizzell, […]

The idea of Oconee County connecting to a regional recreation greenway became another issue that divides the county’s fathers.  Funds to survey for the project were approved in a 3 to 2 county council vote last night, with Elliott, Cain, and Davis in favor and Hart and Durham opposed.  A greenway that could extend from the Clemson area to about […]

A two-vehicle accident last night near Salem took the life of one driver.  What happened just before 7:30 on SC 130, the Whitewater Falls Road, has left the state patrol in search of the driver of unknown vehicle who is considered the suspect in the fatal hit-and-run.  According to trooper Hovis, investigators believe the driver of the unknown vehicle went […]

Announcement from the state’s capital: “The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Tuesday, Feb. 1, via conference call to update the drought status of all counties in South Carolina and voted to declare the entire state drought free. Due to average to above-average rainfall totals during December and January, the Committee removed the incipient drought status of 34 counties. The Committee […]

Grant Keehn, a first-term Walhalla councilman, hints he might have something to say as the result of the questions of and the criticisms about the sudden departure last week of the police chief.  Last night’s meeting, however, turned out to be the improper forum as Mayor Edwards, explaining the item was not on the council committees’ meeting agenda, cut Keehn […]

Thrift Brothers machinery is at work grading large property alongside rural Mountain Road in Oconee County, and there are strong indications the acreage will be turned into a home development.  According to Oconee County records, the applicant and designer of the subdivision project is Ridgewater Engineering and Surveying.  The plan reveals 175 lots, 6.73 miles of new private roads, on […]

What started as a farmers market in Salem has emerged into a growing year-round outdoor flea market whose vendors braved the especially cold Saturday of January 22.  Sandy Inman, pastor of the nearby Issaqueena Church of God, says the flea market started in May last year when local farmers brought in their fresh produce.  But the Saturday gatherings are more […]