Author: Dick Mangrum

At least for now, Duke Energy’s whopping tax payment to Oconee County is partially smaller than originally.  County tax officials say the treasurer’s office today is sending back to Duke $2.5 million of the $33.7 million payment received prior to this month’s deadline, while the company pursues an appeal.  It’s not the first time in recent years that Duke has […]

New cases statewide:  3,528; new deaths, 23 (including an elderly Oconeean who died Wednesday); Of the new cases across the state, 87 from Oconee County.  Of 12,418 test results received statewide, the positivity was 28.4%.

The public high school in Stephens County, Georgia is grappling with the impact that COVID-19 is having on the general school population, as well as one of its basketball teams.  Principal Michael Keown has released numbers to show that an individual involved with the girls varsity basketball team has tested positive; as a result, team games have been canceled until […]

A new wake zone bill is ready for a vote this month in the South Carolina legislature, and Friends of Lake Keowee is drumming up support the measure—Senate Bill SB457.  A Senate subcommittee has scheduled a vote next week for 11 am Wednesday, January 27.  Supporters of the bill are hopeful of achieving calmer waves close to the shorelines of […]

About 300 acres are to be burned today around Lake Cherokee near Salem by a crew from the U-S Forest Service.  The prescribed burn is to start about 11 am.  A USFS spokeswoman said the purpose is to enhance habitat and reduce the fuels that can lead to wildfire.

Eight students and four district employees are the latest additions to the COVID tracking page of the Oconee School District.  One of the employees works in the district office.  Two additional classes of some of the youngest pupils have been sent home and assigned return dates.  They are a third grade class at Ravenel Elementary and a first grade class […]

South Carolina’s Third District representative in Washington, Jeff Duncan, looks forward to serving on three House Energy and Commerce subcommittees in the 117th Congress.  The subcommittees include Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and Communications and Technology.  In a statement from Washington, the Laurens Republican said:  “I will utilize my role on these subcommittees to fight for energy dominance, rural broadband […]

Park operations on Lake Hartwell are being reduced by the U-S Army Corps of Engineers, and cutbacks in federal monies for recreation is the reason.  In these instances, the burden will fall to local governments, including the county of Oconee and the city of Clemson.  The Savannah office of the corps is negotiating with local jurisdictions for overall operations and […]

For the Oconee County Planning Commission, during its first 2021 meeting, there was little to do, with the exception of electing officers.  For this year, Mike Smith will chair the group.  Smith’s place was secured on a vote from a motion by Frankie Pearson.