Author: Dick Mangrum

  Multiple charges have been placed against a 21-year old Townville man in an Oconee Sheriff’s Office investigation that dates as far back as last summer when a camper fire occurred on Mark Lane, Townville.  Shawn Lee Foote II was arrested Wednesday and, as late as this afternoon, remained jailed under a surety bond of more than $38 thousand.  According […]

The last three days of reports from the state health agency show 127 new cases of COVID-19 among the Oconee County populace, including 53 cases in the last 24-hour counting period.  The newest numbers reveal also that of 21 new deaths statewide, one was an elderly Oconeean who died Saturday, November 28.  In today’s report, there were 1,754 additional cases […]

A blue sky in the Seneca area turned grey when the remnants of a controlled burn yesterday in the Crossroads-Tokeena communities south of the city blew smoke northward.

During COVID-19 jury trials are either rare or non-existent in Oconee County.  However, one such jury trial was completed this week in a magistrate’s court.  The case was presided by Magistrate Blake Norton of Walhalla.  Oconee’s chief magistrate Will Derrick says Norton was granted permission by the state court administration based on the acceptance of a plan of safety precautions […]

Students in a self-contained classroom at Walhalla’s James Brown Elementary School have been sent home because of a COVID-19 discovery.  The students must remain away from their school building for two weeks.  Their return date is December 17.  A self-contained class takes in students who share similar academic requirements.  Here are other COVID numbers reported today by the school district—nine […]

According to the state, Oconeeans over Thanksgiving week filed 65 first-time claims for unemployment compensation.  The Department of Employment and Workforce published the numbers for first-time claims today, covering the week of November 22-28.  For the tri-county area, the numbers are 65 new Oconee claims; 81 in Pickens County; and 100 in Anderson County.  The last published unemployed numbers (for […]

If you give the gift of life on Saturday, there will be compensation for you.  Those who donate blood at the Shaver Recreation Complex from 10 am to 3 pm receive a $20 VISA gift card, according to the Blood Connection’s Monnie Whitson.

Starting today, public access will be limited to Oconee County government facilities.  The restricted access is in place to protect the health and well-being of the public and county employees and to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.  These are the precautionary measures:  All tax payments will be accepted at the Pine Street drive-thru, over the phone, online, and by […]