Author: Dick Mangrum

For a second straight day, new South Carolina COVID-19 cases exceed 1,000 for a 24-hour period.  Today’s number of new virus cases statewide is 1,348.  Yesterday’s was 1,243.  Eight of today’s new cases are Oconeeans.  Today’s new deaths number statewide is 17, including an elderly Oconeean whose death occurred October 7.  The total number of test results received by DHEC […]

Sources in position to know say the office of South Carolina Attorney General has chosen against giving a legal opinion on the potential of a conflict of interest involving a Westminster councilman and his wife, who works as the clerk-treasurer.  101.7/WGOG NEWS has been told that an October 19 letter from Cydney Milling, assistant attorney general, reads as follows:  “We […]

Five new cases of COVID-19 have been added to the virus tracking page kept by the Oconee School District.  The following cases were confirmed yesterday:  one student at Walhalla High; and one employee each at Walhalla High, West-Oak Middle School, Seneca Middle, and Walhalla’s James Brown Elementary.  Through November 12, the district counted a total of 140 cases.  The breakdown:  […]

A donation of $1.1 million dollars from the winning campaign of Senator Lindsey Graham is being sent by the South Carolina Republican to a pair of Republican candidates for the U-S Senate in Georgia.  A Graham announcement says the money will go to the campaigns of fellow Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.  They are in run-off elections scheduled January […]

Westminster has had its share of trouble when it comes to police protection.  In recent years, a police chief went to prison for embezzling money.  And financial constraints sliced personnel numbers.  But one city councilman, Danny Duncan, sought last night to clear up any misunderstandings about what he considers to be the quality of the police force these days.  “I […]

Westminster power customers should prepare for a period of six hours this weekend when service is interrupted as part of a scheduled outage.  Leigh Baker, the city utilities director, made the announcement during last night’s city council meeting.  The outage is scheduled to start at midnight tomorrow night and last until 5 o’clock Sunday morning.  It’s necessary, Baker says, to […]

On at least one major Westminster issue, there’s less discord this morning following a vote last night to complete the purchase of a $160 thousand dollar property to be developed into a future recreation complex.  And, for that, Mayor Brian Ramey says he’s gratified by the city council vote to finish the 62-acre purchase on Hall Street.  Two months ago, […]

  The Seneca police say the two young men killed by gunfire last weekend, at the time, were making a gun deal.  According to the police statement, Zema Darnell Fling was selling a gun to Christopher Hunter Todd.  “During the purchase gun shots were exchanged.  Resulting in the death of both individuals,” the statement reads.  The investigation continues.  

Fire fighters rolled to a home fire last night in Westminster.  Shortly before 8:30, fire was reported in a home on Lane Drive near W. King Street.  No injuries were reported.

Seneca Fire Department considers a house fire early today on Summit Street suspicious in nature.  City fire fighters were joined by Friendship volunteers shortly before 3 o’clock this morning at 101 Summit Street.  Richie Caudill, the Seneca chief, says no one has been living at the address.  At arrival, fire fighters assessed the structure at one-third on fire and required […]