Author: Dick Mangrum

A prescribed burn, to be carried out by the U-S Forest Service, is scheduled this afternoon within the Andrew Pickens District of the Sumter National Forest in Oconee County.  The burn of 108 acres is planned in the Garland North Unit off Orchard Road and is being conducted for multi-purposes including wildlife habit improvement, research, and hazardous fuels reduction, according […]

The commissioners of Oconee Parks, Recreation and Tourism have approved mini grants to assist the local arts and historical community.  Each of the following organizations was approved for a $500 dollar grant:  Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail; Oconee Military Museum; Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina; Oconee Community Theatre; Foothills Farmstead; Lake and Mountain Quilters Guild; and Blue Ridge Arts […]

Walhalla’s customers have been switched to a new supply of potable water.  For the most part, according to information from the utilities superintendent, the switch means that for drinking and bathing purposes, Walhalla customers are now receiving water treated at the brand new Lake Keowee plant near West Union.  Scott Parris, utilities director, said, “We will still run the old […]

Westminster will look to a new set of tax professionals to ride herd on the city’s revenues and expenses.  Approved last night was a switch to the Greenville-based financial firm of McKinley, Cooper and Company.  Mayor Ramey says McKinley, Cooper will do the city’s next audit for $19 thousand, $2,500 less than the previous company’s charge. According to Ramey, the […]

Walhalla Fire Department has received a donation of carbon monoxide alarms and monitors.  Its personnel will help you install them if you need assistance.  The credit for the donation goes to the Jeffrey Lee Williams Foundation, partnering with the South Carolina State Fire-Community Risk Reduction section.  In excess of 400 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are reported each year.  The […]

The U-S Attorney in South Carolina, Peter McCoy Jr., announces a grand jury returned a 147-count superseding indictment against 40 defendants in what he calls the largest federal racketeering conspiracy in state history.  The allegations center on a criminal enterprise in which Department of Corrections’ inmates used contraband cell phones to orchestrate murder, kidnapping, firearms distribution, and an international drug […]

In a seven-day average, the Oconee Memorial Hospital treats 19 COVID patients on any one day.  The factoid is found in a University of Minnesota COVID-19 hospitalization tracking project analyzed by NPR—National Public Radio.  The numbers analyzed were included this week in the federal government’s release of hospital-level data that show the impact COVID has on health care facilities across […]

Westminster will limit its city hall staff to two employees while COVID-19 cases continue their climb.  Mayor Brian Ramey says the decision to limit the office staff to no more than two employees at any one time is a pro-active move to hold down the possibilities that a worker could contract or spread the virus.  Such a scenario would strictly […]

Here are new COVID-19 numbers from South Carolina DHEC.  On today’s report:  1,833 new cases (42 are from Oconee) and 12 new deaths (none from Oconee).  Total test results:  8,828 for a positivity of 21.3%.