Author: Dick Mangrum

Three new Oconee County COVID-19 deaths have been recorded on one, 24-hour period.  According to the state health agency, these three bring to 221 total Oconee deaths from COVID, since the pandemic was declared early last year.  DHEC lists an additional nine Oconee deaths as probable deaths from the virus.  For the 24-hours that ended at 11:59 pm Monday, there […]

Whether Walhalla’s veteran mayor will offer for a new, four-year term two years from now is to be a decision Danny Edwards will make but not now.  Edwards says, “As far as another term, that’s a decision we’ll make at a later date, depending on how these next two years go.”  Some people who know the mayor have the impression […]

Walhalla and other public safety responders were on the go early last night to the Picket Post Road and the scene of a car accident. At first, according to the fire department, there was a report of a vehicle occupant entrapped, but that turned out to be inaccurate.  EMS was among the responders to the 6:15 accident on Picket Post […]

A motorcycle accident early last night in front of Tri-County Tech’s main campus at Pendleton took the life of the 45-year old operator–Anderson resident Christopher Eric Matthews.  According to the Anderson County coroner’s office, Matthews was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene of a traumatic head injury secondary to blunt force trauma.  The office of Coroner Greg […]

Seneca’s mayor pro-tem can take pride in the fact that in the five-candidate field for four city council seats, he topped the ticket.  That’s Ronnie O’Kelley and his 677 votes.  He joins other council incumbent winners Al Gaines, with 627, and Dana Moore, with 594.  The fourth seat goes to first-time politician Lekesha Benson.  She tallied 480 votes.  Finishing outside […]

A former policeman and a man who helps promote city events won a seat on the Westminster City Council.  He’s Dale Glymph, whose 90 votes secured the third of three available council seats in his city.  Topping the Westminster council race were incumbent Yousef Mefleh and Jimmy Powell, each with 130 votes.  Other finishers were Audrey Reese, 78; incumbent Reid […]

Walhalla’s meeting table gets a new look and, perhaps, a new way of conducting the city’s business.  Incumbent Keith Pace topped the five-candidate race for three council seats, and the combined ticket of Tyler Jordan and Grant Keehn prevailed to take the second and third council seats.  Pace received 213; Jordan, 202; and Keehn, 196.  Incumbent Josh Roberts missed a […]

On a night when the Braves became the champs of the baseball world, a mix of new and old politicians in Oconee County’s five municipalities celebrated victories at the polls.  And, in the case of West Union, a write-in candidate apparently has won a town council office by a write-in.  For two seats on the West Union Town Council, voters […]

Walhalla (top vote getters for 3 seats): Pace 213 Jordan 202 Keehn 196 Roberts 182 Welch 148 Westminster (top vote getters for three seats): Mefleh 130 Powell 130 Glymph 90 Reese 78 Ramey 59 Adams 67 Seneca (top vote getters for 4 seats) O’Kelley 677 Gaines 627 Moore 594 Benson 480 Pohl 427 (There’s unofficial word tonight that a write-in […]

A Seneca man was arrested in Stephens County after a traffic stop. According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on October 22, at approximately 3 p.m., a Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a report of a reckless driver on Big A Road. The deputy observed a vehicle matching the description and began to monitor the vehicle. During a […]