Author: Dick Mangrum

Walhalla fire fighter Justin McAlister and police officer Jessica Sanders are regarded as characteristic of the best the city can offer.  The two were recognized by the city council as their department’s officers of the year.  Thanks to the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Sanders and McAlister can look forward to a free meal ticket for a night out.  McAlister has […]

Oconee Sheriff’s Office reports that an incident in which one person passed a key to another person escalated out of control.  The result was the arrest Monday afternoon of Justin Dale Duncan of Salem on multiple charges, including attempted murder.  Warrants allege 24-year old fired a handgun into a car occupied by two people at 117 Stamp Creek Road Saturday […]

    Central, South Carolina resident Kevin Bronson has accepted the offer to serve as interim city administrator in Westminster.  Clerk-Treasurer Jennifer Adams says the interim will cover six months, without a contract.  After then, a review will be in order and, at that point, Bronson and the city council can negotiate a contract.  He is to be compensated at […]

The government opens a 21-day comment period today on how a combination of state and federal money is to be spent on various projects across the state, including three in Oconee County.  City of Seneca, which operates a fare-free bus service, is to receive $576 thousand of federal money and 118 thousand of state money.  Senior Solutions of Oconee and […]

Wednesday, November 25–the day before Thanksgiving–will be an eLearning day for all Oconee public school students.  The school buildings will not open that day.  Assignments will be posted by 10 am and teachers will be available for office hours 10 am to 11 am and 2:30 to 3:30 pm.

From South Carolina DHEC today there were 666 new cases  Deaths doubled from Monday to today–from 11 to 25.  There were no new Oconee deaths reported from the virus, but there were nine new cases.  Results of 4,952 tests done statewide Sunday reported to the health agency showed a positivity of 13.4%.

Especially of late, Westminster City Council has been having lots of meetings, for one topic or another.  But one of its members says he’s not getting the proper notice.  Yusef Mefleh complained to his colleagues that he found out about last night’s special meeting when he read about it in the newspaper. And he also said he’s not getting the […]

The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed that: a skunk found near Outz Road and Queen Drive in Townville, SC has tested positive for rabies. There are no known human exposures reported at this time. One cat was potentially exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. The skunk was submitted to […]

At a special meeting, Westminster City Council voted to extend an offer to a Pickens County resident to cross the county line to be city administrator.  Kevin Bronson of Central appeared to be the preferred choice of the finalists to succeed Chris Carter who resigned in May.  If Bronson accepts the terms, he is to be paid $45 thousand over […]

Because of continual detections of COVID-19 of Seneca High students, school officials starting today are going to talk about the possibility of further aggressive action to combat the virus spread.  Dr. Michael Thorsland, district superintendent, made the announcement last night as he told the county trustees that around 100 Seneca High students are now under quarantine, and there’s much that […]