Author: Dick Mangrum

From Washington, Senator Graham is announcing money from the FCC in the amount of $121 million is to be spent to expand rural broadband in South Carolina.  The funding is to go toward more than 100 thousand under-served homes and businesses.  Last summer Graham, with South Carolina’s Tim Scott and Virginia’s Mark Warner, offered the “Governors’ Broadband Development Fund” to […]

The Westminster announcement reads:  “Out of an abundance of caution for citizens, the city of Westminster Christmas Parade is cancelled.”  The parade had been scheduled for Friday night.  Instead, the city pledges to work in a collaborative effort with local organizations and businesses to host a parade and festive holiday market next year.  According to the announcement, COVID-19 infection rates, […]

A 35-year career is coming to an end in Oconee County with the retirement of Steve Hunt, a registered engineer and environmental operator at the Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  Since 2016, Hunt served the JRSA as operations director.  He was commended Monday in a resolution passed by the JRSA commissioners.  That resolution expressed appreciation to Hunt for his years of […]

With leaves fallen from trees, the naked eye can gain a greater appreciation of the severe damage wrought by the EF3 tornado in Seneca and surrounding area.  Some of that debris remains eight months later.  Scott Moulder, city administrator, admitted last night the cleanup effort continues, but there are reasons for that.  They include the failure of some equipment.  The […]

To the dismay of the South Carolina 3rd District member, the House passed a wide-ranging defense bill, in spite of a veto threat by the president.  Republican Jeff Duncan of Laurens accuses the Democrat-controlled chamber of abandoning bi-partisanship in setting            the next military spending.  Duncan accused House Democrats of failing to protect the Marine Corps […]

BASF is recruiting to fill 65 jobs in the Upstate, including 50 positions at its plant near Seneca.  The company promises a solid career path, pay raises, learning and development opportunities.  Starting pay was recently raised to $18.50 an hour.  Most of the open jobs do not require a college degree and seek applicants with a high school diploma or […]

New COVID testing hours start today at Clemson University.  The university is now offering PCR saliva tests to anyone who registers prior to arrival between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm weekdays thru December 18 and an additional window from 7 am to 10 am Friday. The online registration portal, along with additional information, is available at tig.rs/community-testing.  […]

An abandoned house went up in flames last night near Seneca.  Fire fighters report no injuries in the fire around 8:30 at Goddard Avenue and E. Gammell streets in the Utica Community.

Within hours from the start of investigation, an Oconee deputy arrested a man accused of burglarizing a construction office at Hartwell Village.  The sheriff’s office announces the following charges against Blake Marvin Johnson, 35-year old Maw Bridge Road, Central resident:  first degree burglary, petty larceny, and possession of tools capable of being used in a crime.  Johnson’s arrest was reported […]

The number of Oconee students who’ve been temporarily shuttled from face-to-face to distance learning continues to grow.  The COVID-19 tracking page for the county public schools listed the following classes moved to distance learning: a K-5 Brown Elementary class; a K-4 Fair-Oak Elementary class; one special ed class at Walhalla High; one special ed class at Blue Ridge Elementary; and […]