Author: Dick Mangrum

A new study by Clemson University researchers lends further credence to the effectiveness of prescribed fire as a forest management tool that does not adversely impact ecosystem health by increasing sediment or nutrient runoff. With the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina history still fresh in the memories of many in the Upstate, that distinction is important because a primary […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced 651 new confirmed cases and  12 additional confirmed deaths.  New Oconee County cases numbered 12. This brings the total number of South Carolina confirmed cases to 117,333 and confirmed deaths to 2,588. As of yesterday, a total of 1,013,506 tests have been conducted in the state. The total number of […]

Crews from Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative are in rural Louisiana working to restore electric service.  There are a total of 16 Blue Ridge workers who, along with other South Carolina Co-Op crews, have responded to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Laura.  This morning, Blue Ridge’s Terry Ballenger says, it’s an open-ended question as to how low long they will remain.  […]

A spokeswoman for Oconee schools says one of the fatalities in yesterday’s tragic car accident near Clemson was a student at the Seneca High School.  She says the other fatality and the two others injured are former Seneca students.  The following school district twitter message appears:  “Please keep our Seneca High family and community, along with our district family, in […]

A new posting by Oconee School District shows three students tested positive for COVID-19, along with four employees.  The latest breakdown shows one Walhalla High student, one Walhalla Elementary student, and one Seneca High student.  Employees listed are from Orchard Park Elementary, Hamilton Career and Technology, Walhalla High, and James Brown Elementary.  The employees at Walhalla High and James Brown […]

Because of controversies that have befallen Westminster, the city has sustained a blow to its psyche.  But one of the city’s outspoken promoters urges everyone not to lose sight of the good in the city–especially as the calendar turns from August to September and the region celebrates the 2020 apple crop.  There is no South Carolina Apple Festival in its […]

The Clemson football Tigers will attempt a season of home football games starting the 19th of September.  And the city council there will conduct football season business during a special meeting at 5:30 today at City Hall.  On the agenda for the mayor and council:  suspending permits that would allow cars to be parked in yards and suspending parking passes […]

Reports now place the toll in yesterday’s early morning accident near Clemson at three people dead.  Identities of the deceased have yet to be publicly released.  The highway patrol reported the accident involving a 2014 Subaru at 1:35 in the morning on Old Cherry Road, about one mile south of Clemson, near the Old Stone Church Road.  Trooper Brandon Bolt […]

Heavy rain pelted WGOG land starting the 10 o’clock hour and bringing down trees in the Cleveland-Madison communities in western Oconee County.

Oconee sheriff’s officers are looking for the shooter in a Madison community incident yesterday that took the life of a 63-year old man.  Coroner Addis says the victim was Roger Qualls at a home near 123 and the Georgia line, about five miles from Westminster.  An autopsy has been scheduled. 9-1-1 received a report of the shooting around 2:15 in […]