Author: Dick Mangrum

First word from Oconee School District is that the start of the delayed school year this morning is running smoothly.  Spokeswoman Jennifer Dodd says, “District administrators are out and about visiting schools this morning.  They have said things are running smoothly across schools — students are excited to see their teachers; they are wearing masks without issue.  Our teachers and […]

The Seneca City Hall and other city public buildings re-opened for business this morning, after being closed late last week for deep-cleaning.  Four city employees tested positive for COVID-19, and the city instituted the closings out of caution.  But it’s back to business now.

  Court sources say nothing is yet official, but there’s some belief that the State Court Administration might direct Oconee County to schedule its first week of jury trials since the pandemic was declared in March.  That would be a General Sessions Court week now scheduled to start September 21.  In the meantime, 101.7/WGOG NEWS has learned, the Clerk of […]

A weekend caravan of automobiles followed a tri-angular route connecting Oconee’s three largest municipalities, and an organizer says things went well.  The Saturday evening caravan sought to raise attention to the idea of an Oconee County Commission on African-American Affairs as well as the Say the Names campaign that calls names of African-American victims of police brutality.  Betty Jo Smith […]

  David Underwood says had he been present for last week’s meeting, he’d have voted against the Walhalla ordinance that, starting today, requires facial coverings while in public, when social distancing can’t be followed.  But Councilman Underwood said he and his wife were celebrating their anniversary.  Had he voted, the ordinance, he notes, would still have passed by a vote […]

In a two-car accident yesterday near Walhalla, three people were reported hurt.  According to Walhalla Fire Department, one of the injured in the Picket Post Road accident suffered trauma and required a med helicopter flight to Greenville.  The two others injured were sent by ground transport to the Oconee hospital.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Sunday announced 663 new confirmed cases and 33 new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 8 additional confirmed deaths and 4 new probable deaths.  Five new Oconee County cases were reported, along with a new Oconee County death; that of an elderly person who died Saturday. This brings the total number of confirmed cases […]

  A 37-year old man has been jailed in an investigation of a fatal shooting late last night in the vicinity of South Union Community in southern Oconee County.  According to the sheriff’s office, Brian James Schwenk was detained at the shooting scene, the Little Choesteoa Road home of the victim.  Coroner Karl Addis says James Richard Carlson died of […]

Two high-emotion controversies are agenda items for a called meeting of Westminster City Council.  At this meeting next week, the council is scheduled to discuss re-instituting a nepotism policy and alleged threats made to a city employee by a councilman.  The meeting will be 5:30 pm Tuesday in the training room of the Westminster Fire Department. If you plan to […]