Author: Dick Mangrum

In a Thursday afternoon traffic stop near Seneca’s Miracle Circle,  Oconee County resident James Joseph Ungaro Jr.  was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses including attempted murder, kidnapping, malicious injury to personal property, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in a case described as a domestic violence investigation. Arrest warrants allege 29-year […]

In an early morning arrest, a 29-year old man has been jailed and accused on 12 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor third degree.  The Oconee Sheriff’s Office identifies the accused as Dillon James Abronski, who gave two addresses:  Laing Court, Seneca and E. Paulsboro, New Jersey.  Seneca police officers booked Abronski into the jail at 3:24 this […]

A two-vehicle crash in Oconee County, on the Seneca Creek Road, took the life yesterday of a motorcyclist.  Coroner Addis identified the deceased as a 20-year old Clemson student, Caleb Matthew Griffis.  He lived in Tallulah Falls, Georgia.  The accident, not far from the Seneca Creek Boat Ramp, was reported at 3:15 pm.  Griffis died at 4:19 in the emergency […]

The state health agency has added 51 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 across South Carolina, including eight in Oconee County.  Statewide the death toll increased by 14 individuals.  Of 12,657 test results, the positivity was 5.7%.

South Carolina marked two historical milestones this week: more than two million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the state, and everyone 16 and older is now eligible to get their shot. As of today, a total of 2,034,077 doses have been given statewide, with 1,289,672 South Carolina residents having received at least one dose of vaccine. “Having the COVID-19 vaccine […]

An F-150 driver allegedly under the influence lost control last night headed north from Walhalla.  His truck, the police say, left N. Catherine Street hit the front stoop of a home and two parked vehicles.  It then, according to Chief Brinson, pushed the parked cars into another vehicle at Seigler’s Trading Post.  Chief Sean Brinson identified the driver as Branson […]

An unlocked car with engine running provided opportunity yesterday morning in Seneca for an auto thief.  While the car owner went inside Xpress Mart on EN 1st Street, someone drove off in the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe.  But the end of the day was not so lucky for  one 27-year old man.  Law enforcement records show the Seneca police arrested and […]

Wayne McCall, the former Oconee County councilman, has confirmed that McCall Brothers are dealing with Dollar General for the store chain to build a Dollar General “Plus” on SC 130 amid Lake Keowee home developments.  A Dollar General “Plus” is a larger store than a traditional Dollar General and is distinguished by its fresh meat and produce products.  Immediate reaction […]

The coroner in Pickens County has announced the name of the fatality in the crash Tuesday night of a dirt bike and a Jeep. Dirt bike operator Wesley Alan Gantt, 25-year old Pickens resident, died yesterday morning in a Greenville hospital.  Coroner Kandy Kelley attributes Gantt’s death to blunt force trauma to the head.  Gantt was not wearing a helmet. […]

Police in Georgia have made an arrest in the death of a University of Georgia student from Toccoa.  Knox Whiten, 21 years old and an earlier graduate of the Oconee Christian Academy, died when hit by a vehicle March 21 on Chase Street Street near the outer Athens loop.  Radio WNEG at Toccoa quotes the Athens-Clarke County police say saying […]