Author: Dick Mangrum

The South Carolina chief justice decision to again cancel jury trials means the remaining co-defendant from a Seneca homicide case must wait indefinitely for his day in court.  Chief Justice Beatty’s recent decision was influenced by spikes in deaths and cases of COVID-19.  Decota Brown is accused of fatally shooting his grandmother, Geraldine Castle, in March 2019. Brown’s co-defendant, Hunter […]

Authorities say a Friendship Community, Seneca man was beaten to death with a blunt object at a Durham Brown Road home and the body dumped by the side of a road in rural northern Oconee County.  The homicide victim was identified yesterday as James Wayne Wilson, 71 years old; two people under arrest are Steven Cecil Wilson and Samantha Denise […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control today provided the following update on COVID-19 vaccine: • From December 14-16, South Carolina received its first allocation of COVID-19 vaccine: a total of 42,900 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were received by direct shipments from the federal government. As of early this afternoon, 19,644 doses of vaccine have been administered to […]

South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District is represented by a new state highway commissioner.  Replacing the retired Ben Davis of Greenwood is Pamela Christopher of Anderson.  Since 2014, Christopher has been the president/CEO of the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce.  Before that, according to the state DOT’s “Connector” news publication, Christopher managed successful economic development efforts in South Carolina, Georgia, and […]

One male and one female were in custody today, and the Oconee Sheriff’s Office describes the two as connected to its investigation of the body found yesterday near the Wigington Pass.  The sheriff’s office says their names are to be released today after formal charges are filed.  Since the noon hour yesterday, an investigation has been underway to determine who […]

After undergoing routine testing due to coming into close contact with the COVID-19 virus, Governor Henry McMaster was notified late Monday evening that he has tested positive for the virus. First Lady Peggy McMaster remains asymptomatic, while the governor is experiencing mild symptoms with a cough and slight fatigue. Both remain in good spirits and Governor McMaster continues to work […]

Oconee County’s various manned convenience centers are open today and tomorrow, but will be closed Friday on Christmas Day and the day after Christmas on Saturday, December 26.  They will operate on reduced hours Christmas Eve–Thursday, December 24.  The Christmas Eve hours will be 7 am to 3 pm.

A manufacturing plant near Seneca–BASF–has announced a series of donations at Christmas time.  The company donated $2,500 to three Oconee first responder agencies to help them better serve their communities.  Friendship Fire Department, the Oconee Hazmat Unit in Walhalla, and the Seneca Fire Department each received $750 dollars.  BASF workers raised more than $1,300 in gift cards for Safe Harbor, […]

In one of the first acts in the New Year, city of Seneca will decide if a small property near the 123 By-Pass should be annexed to the city.  A roadside sign on the by-pass beckons the coming of a hearing January 25 on Tony Francisco’s request for annexation and zoning for his building.  Because the property sits behind another […]