Author: Dick Mangrum

75 year old Samuel Capsouto, who was the subject of a Missing Person’s News Release earlier today, has been located and is safe.  Dispatch was notified of Samuel’s location around Noon today.   According to Investigator Jimmy Dixon, Samuel was located in a wooded area at the Summit Subdivision near Seneca.  Out of an abundance of caution due to be […]

Infectious disease physician for Prisma Health in South Carolina (which includes the Oconee Memorial Hospital) says the current number of in-patients with COVID-19 systemwide is 223.  It was 85 December 1.  That tells Dr. Albrecht that there’s no doubt about the severity of the latest variant, Omicron, and its effects on the population.  He stresses those with symptoms and those […]

A dump truck full of small landscaping gravel left a narrow country road this morning near Walhalla and overturned.  According to the fire department, the truck slid off Crystal Lane near the W. Bear Swamp Road and struck a Blue Ridge Electric power pole.  Will Bates, the interim fire chief, says the pole will require replacing and, for a time, […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help today in locating a missing Salem man.   Late yesterday evening, around 9:33pm, a deputy was dispatched to Keowee Place Assisted Living, which is located on Highway 130, in regards to a reported missing person, 75 year old Samuel Capsouto.   A search for Samuel, by employees of the Assisted […]

Merchants on Main Street, Walhalla may be watching the bills they take in to distinguish between what is authentic and what is not.  101.7/WGOG NEWS has learned that one Main Street business was left recently with a counterfeit $20 bill.  The police were made aware.  

Two males claiming to work for a national bank chain told their victim there was a transaction on her account for $1 thousand; however, to get the money refunded, she would have to buy two, $500 dollar gift cards.  They wanted her to call them and pass along the numbers on pre-paid cards so the reimbursement could take place.  Money […]

Next month, on the night of January 24, the members of the Oconee Board of Zoning Appeals may order pizza brought-in.  That night the board will judge the worthiness of five requests—one for a special exception and four for zoning variances.  The addresses involved are 599 Ellenburg Road, Seneca; 304 Breakwater Lane, Seneca; 851 Little Bay Lane, Seneca; 419 Peninsula […]

Today is the day South Carolina DHEC will report COVID-19 numbers covering a five-day period from Wednesday last week through Monday this week.  Forecast models used by the CDC suggest that cases, hospitalizations and deaths will increase over the next four weeks.  According to the models, the U-S death toll could reach 862,900 by January 22. Nationally, estimates suggest between […]

The squirrel family includes a number of small or medium-size rodents, and one of them is blamed for the havoc last night in Westminster.  For one to two hours, power crews scurried to restore service after the sky suddenly alighted and the city went dark.  Mayor Ramey says workers restored service about 10 o’clock.

Participants in South Carolina “WIC”–Women, Infants and Children program–can cash in on extra healthy fruits and vegetables until springtime of next year.  The state DHEC announces that the temporary cash value benefit increase announced last fall is being extended from New Year’s Eve to March 31.   Fruit and vegetable purchases will remain at the following amounts for qualifying families: $24 […]