Author: Dick Mangrum

Oconee County’s Chau Ram Park near Westminster will remain closed into next week.  Weather problems are delaying the work to replace two culverts near the main parking area.  Phil Shirley, director of Oconee PRT, says the repairs are a planned project to replace two failing culverts and widen the road leading to the campground.  Shirley said, “The park will remain […]

At the start of the work week, according to the Department of Employment and Workforce in Columbia, South Carolina paid more than $10 million to the first round of claimants eligible for federal pandemic supplemental benefits.  “We are extremely  excited to begin paying these important funds without interruption to continuing claimants with eligible weeks,” said DEW Executive Director Dan Ellzey.  […]

Former Governor David Beasley returns next month to his alma mater, Clemson University, to keynote the first Food, Packaging and Sustainability Summit, hosted by Sonoco “FRESH’.  The event will take place virtually at the university February 24-26. Beasley serves as executive director of the U-N Nations World Food Programme and is assisted by former 3rd District Rep. Gresham Barrett.  Last […]

Bad weather in winter tends to have a corresponding effect on the numbers of blood donors, but the blood collection center for the Golden Corner says you can counteract that by stepping forward to help ensure an adequate blood supply.  Donating blood is considered a civic duty, as Prisma Health Oconee Memorial and nearby hospitals rely on the region’s Blood […]

Oconee County has been chosen to receive $22,985 in federal funds thru “FEMA” under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program 38.  According to the United Way of Oconee, a local board of directors for the program will meet to decide how the monies are to be distributed among emergency food and shelter programs run by local organizations.  Only […]

The city of Westminster expresses sadness and mourns the death of a former mayor.  Ed Watkins, a Main Street grocery store operator, died Tuesday at the Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital.  During three different periods in the 1960s and ’70s, Watkins served as city councilman and mayor.  Current Mayor Brian Ramey said, “I have known Mr. Ed for most of […]

A 50-year old Salem man was arrested early Wednesday on three traffic charges, including hit and run accident with property damage.  Both the highway patrol and the sheriff’s office investigated an accident Tuesday afternoon on the Stamp Creek Road, from which Clayton Randall Littleton was charged with hit-run, reckless driving, and malicious injury to personal property.  A second driver, who […]

The state health agency confirms three new Oconee County deaths from COVID-19.  All were elderly individuals, whose deaths came December 16 and 31 and January 1.  Statewide, the new, 24-hour death toll was 51.   New cases confirmed throughout South Carolina today numbered 3,935, including 54 Oconeeans.  Of 11,500 test results received statewide, the positivity was 34.2%.

A Westminster area man was jailed today charged with four crimes December 16, an investigation begun when a county deputy was called to a Durham Brown Road, Fair Play home in response to the report of a shooting.  The sheriff’s office announces the following four charges against William Roger McGuffin, 42 years old:  armed robbery; petty larceny; assault and battery […]