Category: News

Walhalla–for mayor: Edwards 216 Owens 111 Chastain 105 Bagwell 95 _________ City Council–top 3 win seats Underwood 346 Melendez 240 Woodward  222 _____________ Westminster, for mayor: Brian Ramey 256 Susan Alexander Ramey 148 ________ For city council, top 3 get seats: Duncan 188 Cater 184 Chastain 176 Until certified Thursday, all results are unofficial. According to one election official, there […]

A temporary consultant arrangement between Seneca and retired city administrator Greg Dietterick last November will be a one-time deal. Dietterick’s successor, Scott Moulder, said today, “We will discontinue (the consultancy) at completion of the initial agreement.” It’s believed the length of arrangement was approximately one year. At the time, Moulder was in the first few months as Dietterick’s replacement. Moulder […]

Oconee law enforcement records show a Townville man faces two charges of domestic violence—one of them alleged to have occurred Sunday and the other, October 15. The arrest records for William Ernest Watson also show he’s charged with kidnapping. In one of the warrants for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, 30-year old Watson is alleged to have […]

Pioneer Rural Water has gone three weeks without a water quality complaint, and district officials are hoping it’s a sign that, at least for now, taste and odor issues are behind them. The Oconee-Anderson supplier last summer switched to Lake Hartwell raw water, drawn from the lake, and treated at the first-year treatment plant. Soon thereafter, however, sporadic complaints cropped […]

Total assets are growing at a bank that was formed by Oconee investors in the late 20th century.  Community First Bancorporation, parent company of Community First Bank, Walhalla, is reporting total assets at $420 million and earnings year-to-date of $1 million.  The earnings declined “primarily,” according to the announcement, “due to expenses associated with the Company’s growth strategy not experienced […]

Two field representatives of the Census Bureau arrived today in Oconee County and were expected to meet with Adam Chapman, county planner, regarding preparations for Oconee County’s part in the population count that takes place across the country next year.  The workers brought a lot of materials and, when 101.7/WGOG NEWS met them, they were headed for a conference room […]

In Westminster, this morning the first voting appeared to be light, in the estimation of one Oconee election commissioner.  Jim Murray made the rounds to Walhalla, Westminster, and West Union.  He called Westminster voting light, Walhalla voting “steady”, and only a handful of votes had been cast in West Union, where there’s none of the offices is contested.  This is […]

A low-pressure turbine replacement project for Unit 2 at the Oconee Nuclear Station begins this month during the Unit 2 refueling outage. The turbine project will wind up with the completion of the refueling outage, according to a Duke Energy spokeswoman. Here are some facts about the turbines as provided to 101.7/WGOG NEWS by Duke Energy: These steam-driven turbines drive […]

At the top of the hour, polls open in four Oconee municipalities.  City voters have until 7 tonight to cast ballots to fill offices for mayor and council.  The votes cast today and counted tonight will decide questions raised during the build up for the Walhalla and Westminster elections.  For those two cities, there has been unusual interest and competition […]

11/4/19 The Seneca Rotary Club named their students of the month for October last week. The following students were recognized and presented with a plaque. Northside Elementary – Paige Bearden Ravenel Elementary – Brycen Gaines Blue Ridge Elementary – Kevin Troy Moyer Seneca Middle – Landon Rogers Seneca High – Brendan Wolff Teacher of the year 2019: Northside Elementary – […]