Author: Dick Mangrum

The number of Oconee women who have disappeared mysteriously has reached the point for local investigators to request an outside set of eyes to figure out why.  Sheriff Mike Crenshaw says he has contacted the state police to try to determine if any of the cases could be connected.  Among those who remain missing from a year or so:  Laura […]

Years ago a project was started to build a nuclear plant in Fairfield County, for which some South Carolina electric power customers were charged but never received benefit because the project was eventually scrapped.  This has led to what the state should do about the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly called Santee Cooper.  It’s a major asset of state […]

The theft of packs of cigarettes was accomplished last week at a Mountain Rest store.  One of thieves used the guise of being a cigarette vendor; the second suspect is believed to have entered the Mountain Rest Dollar General and distracted the cashier.  The crime occurred Saturday afternoon.  The Oconee Sheriff’s Office seeks to identify the criminals, and Crimestoppers is […]

In the latest 24-hour count period, four deaths from COVID-19 were recorded in South Carolina.  There were 1,372 new confirmed cases of the virus in the state–12 of them in Oconee County.  Of 19,498 test results received statewide, the positivity was 10.10%.

Mike Smith is the new chairman of the Oconee Planning Commission, following the resignation last month of Gwen McPhail.  At times, planning commission meetings have run for hours, but Smith will try to limit them to no more than two hours at a time.  “I’m aware of attention spans, so hopefully I will plan accordingly.  Two-hour meetings we tend to […]

A new convenience store and gas station has the approval to locate at an I-85 intersection in Oconee County, but the planning commission is being urged to stop further development until safety concerns are met.  Kenneth Jackson Jr., urged the planning commissioners to resist any future development at I-85 exit 4 at Whitfield Road, other than the new Speedway which […]

After having spoken to DHEC, Dr. Michael Thorsland, superintendent of Oconee public schools, is disappointed that, when it comes to vaccinating teachers and staff, the state health agency won’t agree to offer the shots in a mass vaccination clinic.  If there were such a clinic, Thorsland believes the teachers and other school workers could all receive their shots in one […]

Since the pandemic ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser does his hookup for his Pardon the Interruption program from his attic.  Last night Michael Thorsland took part in the Oconee school board virtually from the basement of his home.  The reason:  an exposure to a family member who has contracted COVID-19.  Thanks to technology, the superintendent for Oconee schools didn’t miss a beat […]

For financial and utility reasons, there’ll be a timeline delay to build and open Seneca’s replacement middle school.  The announcement was made during the February meeting of the Oconee board of school trustees.  Projected earlier to be ready for the 2023-24 school year, the new school to be built on the Wells Highway will now require an additional one year […]

An Oconee school administrator has been in touch with a lawyer in Charleston, and the Oconee School District is considering joining a class action lawsuit against the makers of e-cigarettes.  The plaintiffs are alleging that the high amount of nicotine in the smokes causes vaping addiction.  And county school trustees, such as Buddy Herring, consider this “a major problem” among […]