Author: Dick Mangrum

Around 5:30 this morning the thermometer here on the Westminster Highway read 31 degrees.  The coming of winter is sign that some of Oconee’s youngest people are without warm coats for cold weather.  This week Sheriff Crenshaw met with Knights of Columbus from the local Council to plan to deliver boxes of “Coats for Kids” to be handed out by […]

Lakeside Lodge at Hartwell Village is inside the district served by Glenn Hart.  But Hart strongly opposes a lease agreement with the federal government that would allow Lakeside Lodge to have a public access trail and courtesy dock on property behind the business on Lake Hartwell.  And, today, Hart said he spoke to “one of the people” at the Army […]

The Oconee State “C” Fund Committee assured the Walhalla city administrator today that his city may qualify for money thru the DOT to re-pave streets and sidewalks. The committee requested Brandon Burton, the city administrator,  to prioritize Walhalla’s  needs and document why “C” fund monies should be applied to them.  The prospects appear good.  Sam Dickson, the committee chairman, said, […]

A stolen transmission, valued around $4 thousand, is a case under active investigation this week at the Oconee Sheriff’s Office.  The transmission was taken from the back of a pickup truck early Wednesday afternoon near Seneca.  Investigators request the public’s help to provide any relevant information, especially if they saw theft in progress.  The victim of the crime says several […]

A circuit judge in Oconee has lowered the bond for a young man accused of multiple crimes, including such offenses as kidnapping and sexual misconduct.  At the same time, Judge Sprouse directed Deputy Solicitor Alderman, “Get this case tried.  This case needs resolution.”  For now the defendant, Tray Jerrell Frazier, will remain jailed until trial, unless he can secure a […]

Oconee County officials are moving to split a northern county voting precinct to comply with one man, one-vote,  as part of re-districting, based on the latest population numbers.  A motion, by District One’s John Elliott, was approved Tuesday to move 750 residents who live in the Tamassee precinct, away from that precinct and re-locate them to District Two.  In this […]

Here is info on one of the latest scam attempts perpetrated among Oconee County citizenry:  According to sheriff’s office, a deputy was contacted by a victim who received notification from Amazon, thanking him for buying an ICloud account.  The victim called a number and was told that a fraudulent account had been opened in his name.  The contact told the […]

Since May, 25 cases of COVID-19 have been counted among Oconee’s jail population.  Jimmy Watt, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, says, “That does not mean we have 25 cases right now, but those are the number of confirmed cases beginning in May of this year.”  Lt. Chapman, the jail director, says precautions followed include no on-site visits by out-reach groups […]

A man who admitted he was under the influence of drugs pleaded guilty to burglarizing the Goodwill store near Seneca and setting fire to a trailer behind the building.  The crimes occurred August 11, 2020, and yesterday William Mark Mize met his fate in the Oconee General Sessions courtroom.  Judge Sprouse had one question for Mize:  Why did he do […]