Author: Dick Mangrum

The newest COVID-19 report from the state health agency specifies six additional Oconee County deaths, the most for any one county in the state for the 24-hour period that ended at 11:59 on Monday night.  So far, total number of Oconee COVID deaths has reached 269, since the start of the pandemic.  Monday’s numbers also show that across the state, […]

The spread of COVID-19 is the reason that the Oconee County Probate Court has closed to the public.  The closing will be in effect until further notice.  According to Judge Ashley Rice, a limited number of staff remains available for emergencies, on a case-by-case basis.  Rice said, “We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.  Information about when offices […]

The Oconee County Attorney, David Root, was directed last night to work toward a settlement with an organization that was rebuffed in its attempts to open a treatment home for “sexually problematic youth” near West Union.  The project was rejected last year by county officials amid strong neighbor opposition.  But, last night, the county council returned from an executive session […]

A proceeding that might have settled a lawsuit over a fire at a Bountyland storage facility failed to materialize this morning when parties on both sides were not present in court when the clerk called the case.  As a result, Judge Sprouse cancelled a motion to enforce a settlement in the case of Clay Young versus Amanda Hartman and others.  […]

One of the factors that lead people to consider Walhalla a pleasant place is its low crime rate.  There are numbers circulating on the internet to bear this out. Police Chief Brinson calls attention to the website safewise.com which lays out crime numbers assembled by the FBI.  The latest year reflected by the numbers is 2020, and Brinson says they […]

The next couple of weeks are all that’s left for Oconee property owners who’ve procrastinated making good on their 2021 Oconee County property obligations.  Greg Nowell, county treasurer, says January 18 is the deadline to pay without penalty.  The bills have been payable since they went out in the mail a few months back.  Many taxpayers wait until January to […]

Seneca’s Ed Halbig says the city will mark a milestone in its history.  Oconee’s largest city, laid out in the late 1800s on opposite sides of the railroad track, is scheduled to turn 150 years old in the year 2023.  And Halbig, the planning and community development director, says consideration of how to observe the 150th is already being given.  […]

The official news publication of the South Carolina DOT congratulates John M. Adams on his promotion to Crew Leader in the DOT’s Oconee Maintenance Division.  Adams promotion rated a mention in the fall/winter edition of the SCDOT Connector.

Seneca officials believe an amphitheater is the logical answer to the city’s efforts to expand arts and entertainment opportunities in the county’s largest municipality.  Late yesterday afternoon they announced work is finishing on an application to request a $500 thousand matching funds grant through the government service agency Appalachian Regional Commission.  If approved, the grant will allow for an outdoor […]