Author: Dick Mangrum

The cities of Seneca, Clemson, and Pickens have boards of architectural review.  Last night Walhalla city council entertained the idea that a board of architectural review could enhance the city’s efforts re-vitalize, yet keep a hold on some of its historic homes and buildings.  They were given ideas by Jennifer Vissage, a staff member of “A-COG”, the region’s government service […]

After a closed-door meeting, Walhalla City Council gave its administrator the authority to line up a legal advisor as the city potentially could find itself in court defending itself from a fellow municipal member of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  A letter from a Seneca lawyer, containing threat of legal action, is creating discord between Seneca and the cities […]

A car chase in the Sandy Springs Community of Anderson County ended with the wreck of the suspect’s car and a fire.  Anderson sheriff’s deputies tried to stop a Ford Fusion for driving recklessly on the Centerville Road, but their attempted stop turned into a chase that ended when the driver, Larry Davelle Cannon Jr., lost control of the car […]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public’s assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.  Photographs and an informational poster depicting the unknown individual, known only as John Doe 45, are being disseminated to the public and […]

Oconee leaders are devoting more time on whether to recommend new development standards in a county on record respecting individual property rights.  Yet, increasingly, there’s sentiment in the county’s growing population base for new rules that protect one neighbor’s property from another’s.  After hearing from the public, hearing from the county attorney, and lots of questions, the county planning commission […]

Word has been received of the death of the Clemson gradate who lived past 100 years old after surviving the infamous Bataan death march in the Pacific theatre during the Second World War.  Ret. Col. Ben Skardon was 104 years old.  News of his death came as Jeff Duncan, Third South Carolina District U-S representative, pursues an honorary promotion for […]

A one-day Oconee County jury trial ended with the conviction of the defendant and a prison sentence meted out by the presiding judge.  Court officers say Kevin Wayne Mahler was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended on the service of five years in prison, to be followed by five […]

Employee bonuses of $300 dollars were approved in a vote last night of the Oconee school trustees, and are to be awarded to the district’s workforce next month.  The cost to the district is calculated to be $510 thousand. The trustees granted the bonuses after finance director Gloria Moore estimated that the cost to grant a $100 bonus would be […]

Faculty, staff, and students from Clemson University donated time and expertise to help beautify and make functional a community garden at the Blue Ridge Community Center in Seneca.  The work was the latest development in an ongoing partnership between Clemson and the community center in Seneca’s Perry Hill neighborhood.  Brooke Brittain, registered dietitian, said the workday helped prepare the community […]

A traffic stop around 1:45 in the morning yesterday by an Oconee deputy at Townville turned up a 32-year old man, for whom there were outstanding arrest warrants, including one that he allegedly burglarized a home last June near Seneca. According to the sheriff’s office, Jeremiah Keith Youngblood was taken into custody after a patrol deputy stopped Youngblood’s vehicle on […]