Category: News

Today’s the last day on the job for Garvin Barker, manager of Schneider Electric’s Oconee County operations. Barker is making a career change. He has accepted a position with Weber Stephen Products as vice president of global manufacturing. The company, based near Chicago, is a maker of charcoal, gas and electric outdoor grills and related accessories.  Barker issued this statement:  […]

A late morning car accident yesterday on the 123 Seneca By-Pass required the presence of emergency responders. Just before lunch time, three vehicles collided in front of Wendy’s Restaurant and the fire department extricated one person from the wreckage. According to Fire Chief Richie Caudill, none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

With help from the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, a coalition has formed in Oconee County to work together to improve the health of its residents. It’s called the Healthy Oconee Coalition. A grant funded by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina will make possible events designed for those in public service roles to learn more about their fellow […]

Pioneer Rural Water prepares to open its treatment plant, perhaps, by the end of April, with the intent to show off the 2.5M gallon a day facility in an open house in spring time. And to help mark these achievements, Pioneer’s policy-making board held its meeting yesterday in the large building near Cleveland Creek and the county’s Golden Corner Commerce […]

In what could be the steepest promotion curve in the history of Oconee County government, Amanda Brock is set to become the county’s permanent administrator, with full charge of the county’s operations that includes a budget of over $40 million and over 400 employees. Brock began the year as executive assistant to interim county administrator Rick Martin. After an executive […]

The expanse of time over which forensic auditors will dig into county finances will be a year longer. On the motion of District 5 Councilmember Glenn Hart, the County Council voted unanimously on Tuesday for a forensic audit of county finances to cover records going back to July 2017. Last week the Council approved a forensic audit going back to […]

An agreement between Oconee County and Sandvik, Inc., obligates the Swedish-owned manufacturer to invest a further $22 milllion in its Oconee County operation near Westminster over the next five years. The County Council on Tuesday approved a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the company, a common vehicle that facilitates investment by tax breaks.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will hold a hearing tomorrow titled ‘Oversight of the Customs and Border Protection’s Response to the Smuggling of Persons at the Southern Border.’  “We are facing an illegal immigration crisis at our southern border and President Trump is on sound legal footing to declare an emergency to deal with […]

A judge’s order in the Oconee Common Pleas Court has settled the claims in a lawsuit alleging negligence in 2017 over a patient’s treatment in the Oconee Memorial Emergency Department. Judge Scott Sprouse’s late January ruling approved the award of $462,500 to Martha Fair, individually and as personal representative of the estate of Wade Van Fair. Mr. Fair died October […]

The South Carolina Education Lottery Commission says it is pleased to announce that the winner of the $1.5 billion Jackpot from the October 23, 2018, Mega Millions drawing has come forward and submitted a claim for the underlying prize. As allowed by South Carolina law, the winner has elected to remain anonymous and has chosen the cash option of a […]