Author: Dick Mangrum

South Carolina’s U-S senators are behind legislation to expand broadband access.  Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott have introduced the State Fix Act to expand broadband access to under-served rural areas.  Senator Graham said, “There are places in South Carolina you might as well be on the moon when it comes to getting high speed internet service.”  The bill would provide […]

A Wednesday traffic stop in Walhalla led the police to file drug charges against the driver.  The police department’s K9 unit conducted the stop on N. Church Street and K9 Kimber was deployed on the vehicle.  That, police say, led to the discovery of heroin and methamphetamine, enough meth to be considered for trafficking purposes.  The driver faces charges of […]

As a precaution against COVID-19, the office of the Oconee County Tax Assessor is closed until the noon hour today.

New state and federal monies have been approved for Oconee County’s federally-chartered Rosa Clark health clinic at Seneca.  They come in the form of grants, the largest of which is $1.4 million from the federal government. Primarily, according to Vicki Thompson, clinic director, the federal grant will be applied to helping populations that prove more vulnerable to COVID-19.  A smaller […]

The Clemson mayor and council took public opinion last night on one of their city’s burning issues:  to what extent should large building be allowed in a city that’s running out of space.  The public was invited to take part on the city’s YouTube channel.  Being considered is whether the university town should ban new, mixed-use building, multi-family dwellings, and […]

Seneca resident Silviano Zavala has organized a blood drive tomorrow in honor of the late Walhalla city councilman Dennis Owens, who died from COVID-19 this year.  The blood drive, in coordination with The Blood Connection, takes place 10 to 3 tomorrow at The Light of the World church at 201 S. Fair Play Street, Seneca.  All donors receive a $20 […]

Other than a fallen tree or two, the weather inflicted little damage during the night.  The worst period apparently was during the 2 o’clock hour when county was placed under a severe thunderstorm warning and a tornado watch.  The rainfall was plentiful including the late afternoon hours.  Around 3 o’clock public safety responders in Seneca were sent to a two-car […]

On today’s DHEC report:  551 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, sixteen of the cases are in Oconee County.  Statewide 31 new confirmed deaths from the virus.  Of 23,968 test results, the state positivity was 3.8%.

The man found dead inside the West Union Post Office early Wednesday sustained a sudden cardiac death, the coroner announced following an autopsy.  Coroner Addis said the cardiac death of Charles Edward Griffin came about as the result of heart disease.  The death of the 64-year old, considered to have been homeless, is classified as a natural death.