Author: Dick Mangrum

A Maryland man is under arrest in Oconee County, after he allegedly assaulted a woman near Seneca.  Davon Brian Bowman of Edgewood, Maryland was arrested early Tuesday by the Oconee Sheriff’s Office on charges of assault and battery third degree and malicious injury to property.  Twenty-three year old Bowman is accused in a warrant of striking with an open hand […]

Walhalla’s newest police officers are Mark Boatman and Devin Matthews.  At this point, the two are uncertified, but Chief Brinson is hopeful they’ll qualify for patrol duties in six months.

Eastbound traffic between Seneca and Westminster on U-S 123 will soon undoubtedly face some slow down in front of the Heritage Farm complex.  Construction is to begin on new turning lanes and on an eastern entrance road to the property.  County Council last night approved a contract with Thrift Development which includes a 5% contingency.  In total, the approved cost […]

Former Oconeean Ola (Whitney) Martin has attained a honor in her young teacher career in South Carolina.  In her first year in the South Aiken school district, Martin has been accorded Teacher of the Year.  She teaches 10th grade English.  Previously she taught in North Augusta.  Ola Martin is the daughter of Barbara Whitney and the late Robert Whitney.

One year ago today, a WGOG NEWS story opened with this:  “Oconee public schools continue to monitor the outbreak of the coronavirus, although the virus has not yet become widespread in the U-S.”  Well, it wasn’t long before the strange virus became widespread.  And here we are one year later with South Carolina’s announcement that, by this week, more than […]

For the time being, plans for a new Westminster magistrate office are on hold.  Oconee County Council last night unanimously decided to instead offer the former Free Gospel Holiness Church building and property for sale.  The council last night was expected to approve the demolition of the building, as the first step in the re-build project.  A design-build contract with […]

Citywide, for the next six months, there shall be no new discount stores anywhere within Walhalla’s corporate limits.  Brent Taylor, city administrator, made the announcement last night after city council met privately to consider the moratorium.  Taylor said the vote to adopt the ordinance passed 5-0.  The executive session followed an airing out of whether Walhalla should permit a Dollar […]

Changes in the way Oconee’s largest cities pay for wastewater treatment were taken as information yesterday by the board of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  Chairman Scott Moulder says he wants the representatives of the member cities to take until another meeting before voting on what’s called a “Split Rate Structure” as proposed by a committee of JRSA.  At the […]

A new path to be a South Carolina law enforcement officer is being chartered with the announcement to move to a statewide law enforcement certificate for its future policemen.  And the state’s technical colleges will have a direct role in educating future policemen; and the state’s criminal justice academy will continue its role of training officers.  Dr. Galen DeHay, president […]

Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced today that South Carolina will advance to Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan beginning Monday, March 8. “Throughout South Carolina’s vaccination efforts, our priority has been – and continues to be – saving lives,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “In the month of February, South […]