Author: Dick Mangrum

Oconee government offices are now in shutdown as part of the Christmas weekend, to allow the workers the chance to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and loved ones.  They’ll return to service Wednesday morning, December 27.  The closings include the sheriff’s office; however, as usual, normal and routine law enforcement operations continue through the weekend.

As part of 101.7/WGOG’s traditional Christmas programming, “The Reading of the Christmas Story” by the late Rev. Jim Stokes of Seneca takes place  following the 5 o’clock news this afternoon.  Presenting the reading is the Seneca Baptist Church, for which Rev. Mr. Stokes pastored many years.  A second “Reading of the Christmas Story” will be aired tomorrow morning following the […]

An early afternoon fire near Westminster took the lives of two 4, and 5-year-old brothers.  Three other family members were sent to the hospital.  Coroner Karl Addis says the names of the deceased will be released today.  Autopsies are to be scheduled to assist the investigation.  Addis says the boys’ mother and two, 1-year-old twins were being evaluated at the […]

Oconee’s rural fire chief has confirmed a working home fire at the 1 o’clock hour this afternoon.  Chief Chris Smith says the location is the Holly Springs Community, on Misty Hollow Lane near the Coffee Road.

Someone has a sharp eye.  A roadside directional sign facing traffic headed north from Seneca’s Miracle Circle reads 6 miles to West Union and 8 miles to Walhalla.  But someone misspelled Walhalla by adding a fourth “L”.  Which makes for the incorrect “Walhallla” spelling.  Celia Myers, city administrator, brought the error to the attention of this week’s city council meeting […]

With pride in her voice, Jody Gaulin says South Carolina’s Democratic presidential preference vote February 3 will be a first-in-the-nation — even before the traditional New Hampshire primary.  And in 2024 the Oconee Democrats chairwoman says the state’s Democratic ballot will offer three choices:  the incumbent president Joe Biden and challenger Marianne Williamson of California, considered a progressive.  A third […]

Although Christmas is still a few days off and New Year’s also, it’s not too early for South Carolina voters to be thinking who deserves their votes in what promises to be an action-packed political year in 2024.  The state Election Commission would like voters to mark their calendars and educate themselves on the candidates and issues so they can […]

City of Walhalla offices will be closed Friday, December 22 through Tuesday, December 26 for the Christmas holidays.  City Hall reopens Wednesday, December 27.  Here’s the trash pickup schedule.  If you are scheduled for Monday pickup, your trash will be collected the next day, the 26th.

“We are meeting with the Quarles family to discuss the next steps.  Nothing will take place until after that meeting.”  That statement from Robert Kittle, public information officer for the office of the state Attorney’s General, in response to what’s next in the case of the identified human remains found last spring near Seneca.  Those remains were those of a […]

The state has empathy for Seneca Borg Warner employees who, when leaving the plant parking lot, often sit in line waiting to turn left onto the Wells Highway.  The DOT has decided that Wells Highway at the plant entrance qualifies for a set of traffic lights, as explained this week by the Oconee-Pickens state senator, Thomas Alexander.  The senator says […]