Author: Dick Mangrum

South Carolina’s environmental agency fined the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority $7,500 for a series of sanitary sewer overflows, a number of which were brought on by heavy rain events.  Chris Eleazer, JRSA executive director, made the announcement this afternoon as the JRSA convened a meeting of its stakeholders to report on what’s being done to satisfy South Carolina DHEC. […]

By the end of the 24-hour period, ending at 11:59 Memorial Day night, South Carolina DHEC counted 71 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, including three in Oconee County.  Statewide, two people were added to the virus death toll, including an elderly Pickens County resident who died on Friday.  Of 2,856 test results, the South Carolina positivity was 3.4%.

In the effort to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to rural and underserved parts of the state, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is expanding its Vaccination Homebound Project to all 46 counties. The statewide program launched Monday, June 1 and will run through December 2021.   DHEC is working with two providers, Welcome Pharmacy and H&M Labs, […]

After a presentation by Salem’s water superintendent, Oconee County Council tentatively approved a $2 million allocation to allow the town to finish a water line loop that town officials have long envisioned as a way to provide water and grow the business base within its service territory.  Mayor Lynn Towe says last night’s county council vote was unanimous and is […]

The extent to which additional paid, full-time Oconee fire fighters adds to the disenchantment of the volunteer staff was a point for debate during last night’s county budget considerations.  A letter was read into the record that rural fire personnel should have been consulted in forming the new budget.  Chief among the complaints is the belief that when the county […]

Part of a state road near Seneca, in the opinion of a resident there, can stand for improvement and some better driving habits by the motorists who frequent it.  Mikayla McIntosh registered the complaint last night with the Oconee County Council.  She said a section of the two-lane road Radio Station Road from Pruitt to Return Church roads needs to […]

Oconee County Council is one vote away from nailing down a new spending plan to cover a new year of county government, but critics say the county fathers should take a deeper dive into the numbers, to see if there are savings to be realized.  And some audience members during last night’s impassioned public comment session believe savings should be […]

South Carolina motor fuel users can expect next month to pay an extra two cents on the gallon at the gas pumps. For a fifth straight year, the South Carolina Motor Fuel User Fee, which helps support road, bridge and infrastructure construction, will increase on July 1 from 24 to 26 cents a gallon.  The increase is part of a […]

The 12 Mile boat landing and beach will be closed to the public on Saturday, (June 5) from 6 am to 1 pm, to allow for a Clemson aquatic team open water swimming event.  The city of Clemson requests that 12 Mile boat landing and beach users plan accordingly.  “We apologize for the inconvenience,” the city said.