Author: Dick Mangrum

Members of the Westminster Planning Commission agree that two acres of property near the city limits on the west side of the city should be zoned for highway commercial purposes.  In a meeting last night, the planning commissioners voted to recommend a highway commercial zone for 2.18 acres on the north side of U-S 123, across from Thrift Hardware.  Property […]

The Clemson City Council last night gave first reading approval to a hate crime ordinance that would create separate offenses for biased-based crime and provide penalties.  Offenders could face a fine of $500 or a jail sentence of 30 days, and the court would have the option to order counseling or an education program.

A funeral is scheduled tomorrow for Paul Ballenger Jr., a Royston, Georgia man killed Saturday when a car went out of control and cleared a concrete barrier and wound up in the pit area at Hartwell Speedway.  He was 58 years old.  The Associated Press wire service reported two other people, including a 9-year old, were injured and sent to […]

Nearly all U-S troops have been withdrawn from Afghanistan, as the U-S ends its longest war.  However, South Carolina’s senior U-S senator is worried that the deck is being cleared for a possible second 9-11.  In remarks released yesterday after his Easley speaking engagement, Lindsey Graham said, “I fear that al Qaeda and ISIS will reemerge and we’ll be paving […]

You can call it the community chest.  Or refer to it in modern day as the United Way.  Oconee’s United Way this year observes its emerald anniversary – its 55th year – in serving the needs of Oconeeans.  And there will be an official celebration during the United Way’s annual meeting Thursday evening, August 5 at the Lakeside Lodge hotel […]

The Pickens County coroner says the victim in last Thursday’s house fire in Six Mile was Beverly Harmon, a 57-year old resident of the home at 191 Duncan Road.  She died in the home.  An autopsy has been conducted.  The case is being investigated by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Oconee sheriff’s officers joined a vehicle chase yesterday morning in the Pickens County town of Central, but word from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is that one of the pursued subjects was not Christopher Lee O’Donald, the man identified as the object of a separate chase on Monday in Oconee County.  Yesterday the Central police, with help from officers from […]

An early morning water main break Tuesday on Arrowood Circle has resulted in low system pressures or complete loss of water service for some customers. As a result, the City of Walhalla Water Department advises the customers in the areas listed below, located in Oconee County, to vigorously boil their water for at least one (1) full minute prior to […]

More South Carolina farmers are applying for permits to grow industrial hemp.  Researchers at Clemson University believe that applying best practices can result in higher quality and increase profits.  During a recent field day, organic vegetable specialist Brian Ward gave an update on the state industrial hemp crop.  One variety discussed was Hurricane Hemp – Florence which was developed after […]