Author: Dick Mangrum

In this afternoon’s state health agency accounting of new cases of COVID-19, here are highlights: New cases statewide:  2,181 (including 23 in Oconee County). Confirmed new SC deaths:  9 Of 19,126 test results received, the positivity increased to 16.2%. These numbers reflect the data for the end of the day Tuesday. Cases, deaths, and positivity all were up from Monday’s […]

Authorities in Florida placed an Oconee County shooting suspect into custody last night at Panama City.  Greenfield Road, Westminster resident Sayphonh Miranda Aquilla Xzayachack was the second person arrested in the Oconee Sheriff’s Office investigation of the wounding of a man last week at his home on Ora Road in the Holly Springs Commission.  In this case, the sheriff’s office […]

A group of the top health organizations in South Carolina has combined to issue a joint recommendation for all pregnant women in South Carolina to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to protect them and their babies against potentially severe COVID-19-related complications. There is now a strong body of evidence that women during and after pregnancy are at much greater risk for […]

AAA motor club predicts high traffic volumes during the last holiday weekend of summer, the Labor Day weekend.  However, with the resurgence of COVID-19 cases traced to the delta variant, some travelers wonder if they should take that last summer trip, or continue with their future travel plans.  AAA’s advice is to remain flexible as policies and guidelines continue to […]

An Oconee School District official said day one yesterday for the county’s middle and high school students went well.  Traffic leaving the schools yesterday was heavy and officials appeal to parents to be patient in the drop-off and pick-up line congestion which usually works its way out after the first week or so.  Bus rider numbers appeared to be higher […]

The police in Toccoa, Georgia appeal to the public for information that can solve a mid-day bank robbery yesterday on the Big A Road.  A white male with medium stock build, brown hair and a beard just before the noon hour passed a note to a Northeast Georgia Bank teller announcing robbery and demanding and getting money.  The police have […]

An expansion of an education collaborative is designed to help Oconee County high school students and other nearby high schoolers follow a pathway to an education degree at Clemson University.  Oconee School District and four other nearby districts are partnering with Clemson and Tri-County Technical College in an “Expressway to Tiger Town” that will offer a curriculum path for students […]

South Carolina DOT applauds the U-S Senate passage of an infrastructure bill and hopes the trillion dollar measure meets the approval in the House of Representatives.  South Carolina’s share of the funds, according to the DOT, would greatly benefit the state’s infrastructure and blend well with the DOT’s 10-year plan to upgrade the network of South Carolina roads and bridges.  […]

In advance of the start of candidate qualifying, a Westminster councilman says he’ll seek re-election in this year’s city election.  Which means that Yusef Mefleh is going to qualify during the two-week candidate period that starts on Monday.  This year’s municipal elections in Oconee will take place November 2.  

One of two suspects in last week’s shooting at a home near Westminster is in custody.  According to the Oconee Sheriff’s Office, Gavin Lamar Tukes of Westminster was jailed this morning and faces charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, first degree burglary, and petty larceny.  The second person identified as a […]