Author: Dick Mangrum

The state health agency has added  257 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 to its record-keeping.  Included in that number:  five cases from Oconee County.  Statewide, the death toll increased by 10 individuals.  Of 13,016 test results, the new South Carolina positivity is 2.9%.  These numbers are the data counted in the 24-hour period that ended at 11:59 Wednesday night.

The region is approaching a blood shortage because of historical low donor turnout, and the Blood Connection warns that unless the public responds to a plea to donate, a blood rationing event will take place.  Hospitals report they are using blood at a     much higher rate than normal.  The Blood Connection is having to back-order blood products.  Blood donations […]

A man near Salem has been missing for three weeks, even though a family member has tried text and telephone messages.  The Oconee Sheriff’s Office would like the public’s help to locate William Sidney Brown, whose disappearance was reported to the office yesterday.  Brown is 43 years old, 6’2”, hazel eyes, brown hair and may be in a blue 2003 […]

A 32-year old Walhalla area man enjoyed only two days of freedom after his first court appearance of the week.  On Monday, Joshua Blake Gray pleaded guilty to grand larceny and receiving stolen goods.  Judge Sprouse ordered a five-year prison sentence, but suspended prison time.  Instead the judge ordered restitution and placed Gray on five years’ probation and allowed him […]

Oconee County deputies and jail guards were recognized at a promotions ceremony this week, conducted by the sheriff’s office. Promoted to the rank of corporal were master patrol deputies Chris Johnson of the Delta Shift and Andrew Marcengill of the Alpha Shift.  Recognized were the following patrol deputies:  Brandon Justice of the Charlie Shift, Brandon Collins of the Bravo Shift, […]

All branches of the Oconee Public Library are closed tomorrow through Monday for the Memorial Day weekend.  Book return drops will be open, so will the virtual branch, oconeelibrary.org which can accommodate e-books, streaming movies through Kanopy; and magazines through Flipster.  Summer reading events start next week.  All library branches re-open at normal time Tuesday.

Because of the lack of rain, South Carolina is experiencing dried out conditions that lead to high fire conditions in some areas of the state.  The little rain is not enough to make a significant change to near-drought conditions.  Most often, inside the Sumter National Forest, fires will start in the leaf litter from an abandoned campfire or from someone […]

With Memorial Day just a few days away and summer break on the horizon, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is encouraging parents to get their children, ages 12 and up, vaccinated as soon as possible to protect against COVID-19. Getting children vaccinated is important because they can spread the virus to vulnerable people, such as […]

Caps and gowns will be worn tomorrow in Oconee’s three high school stadiums.  The football fields are the settings for the 2021 graduations for the senior classes of Seneca, Walhalla, and West-Oak.  In all, 620 seniors will say farewell to their schools.  Walhalla has the largest graduating class, 256; next is Seneca with 200; and West-Oak with 164. Of the […]

Oconee and Pickens counties enjoy some of the lowest unemployment rates in South Carolina, with adjoining Anderson County not much higher.  The April jobless percentages for Oconee County of 3.7% and Pickens County at 3.8% come at a time when many employers continue to scour the ranks of job seekers to fill necessary service positions to meet customer demand.  Anderson […]