Author: Dick Mangrum

As first announced Nov. 21, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will not report daily COVID-19 numbers on New Year’s Day. Data that would be reported January 1 will be available online the following day. Additionally, while DHEC will continue to provide daily COVID-19 updates on the agency’s webpage, beginning Jan. 2, 2021, the same information […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today provided the following update on the state’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, including the state’s progress in vaccinating those in Phase 1a and ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of all South Carolinians: “Since receiving the first doses of the vaccine on Dec. 14, we remain encouraged by […]

It’s already a Happy New Year for Seneca policeman Casey Bowling.  With an announcement today, Bowling has been elevated from interim chief of police to police chief, as the successor to the retired John Covington.  In a joint announcement from Mayor Alexander and Administrator Moulder, Bowling won out “over several qualified candidates” who competed for the job.  A law enforcement […]

The chairwoman of Oconee’s board of school trustees, Denise McCormick, is confident that district administration on Monday will re-assess the extent to which the COVID-19 spread impacts the third and fourth quarters of the academic calendar.  Students who’ve opted for in-person instruction are due back in the classrooms.  “There may have to be a decision made at some point whether […]

An employee at a 123 Seneca ByPass store is accused of breach of trust against her employer.  The police Wednesday arrested and charged West Union area resident Amy Denise Smith, 28, with breach of trust with fraud intent.  The affidavit to the arrest warrant, signed by officer Tim McCall, alleges that employee Smith took money from Harbor Freight Tools “by […]

  One day after providing an update on COVID-19 vaccines, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced the statewide vaccination percentage per doses received by the federal government is at 31 percent, which is above the national average of 19 percent and nearly double that of other southeastern states. “We continue to successfully roll out […]

After 34 years service, how do you say farewell to an Oconee County public servant?  You did it with a retirement event at the Oconee Courthouse, for Beverly Whitfield who retires as the county Clerk of Court.  She’s being succeeded by Lisa Burton, who ran unopposed for the office in the November General Election.  The office of Oconee Clerk of […]

An oath of office will be given Monday evening to four elected officials of Pickens County. The ceremony is planned for Alex Saitta, Roy Costner III, Chris Bowers, and Henry Wilson.  The oath is to be administered by David Allison, judge of the Pickens County Probate Court.  Because of increasing COVID-19 infections, there will be limited public access to the […]

A pair of late night fire calls, both of them practically simultaneously, were typical last night of what a homeowner may encounter in winter time.  A furnace fire occurred on Walhalla’s West Ervin Street and a chimney fire on Ramey Road near Salem.  In each instance, according to Oconee Rural Fire, the fires were stopped before major damage could occur.