Category: News

All Sumter and Francis Marion nation forest ranger stations will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving and resume regular business hours Friday.  The forests stretch across the state from Walhalla to McClellanville and offer recreation opportunities such as hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, boating hunting, fishing, camping and picnicking–or simply a chance to enjoy the scenery.

The clause that creates an exemption based on previous circumstances was addressed last night by the Oconee planning commissioners.  Specifically, the extent to which a grandfather clause should be recognized by county zoning.  The commissioners strived last night for a recommendation to the county council that’ll recognize the rights of a property owner who bought a lot but had yet […]

A Clemson University study found that feral hogs are a $115 million problem for the state’s agriculture.  This is the first time a comprehensive dollar figure has been attached to the ecological and industry damages caused by wild hogs that produce rapidly and are growing in numbers.  They are ecological zombies.  They eat everything, according to Shari Rodriguez, report author […]

The Pickens County fire that surrounded Rocky Mountain above its northern perimeter continued to grow yesterday, but authorities say, for now, it poses no immediate threat to residents and structures.  Early reports yesterday indicated the fire grew northwest toward Buzzard Mountain, but aerial observations confirmed the fire is spreading equally in all directions.  By early afternoon, a layer of smoke […]

Someone could be counting $359 million dollars in blessings this Thanksgiving, according to the South Carolina Education Lottery.  The winning numbers for the 11th largest jackpot in Powerball history will be drawn Wednesday night at 10:59.  South Carolinians may buy tickets for $2 dollars up until 9:59 pm  the night of the drawing at most convenience stores and grocery stores. […]

Late Friday night a Salem man was arrested by the Oconee Sheriff’s Office after an alarm was sounded and a deputy discovered a home burglary on Bridgeview Drive inside the Knollwood Manor subdivision.  Daniel Bradley Ryan Jr. was charged with burglary second degree and malicious injury to personal property. The deputy discovered a broken window at the home and contacted […]

The wildfire that escaped a small portion of the northern perimeter late Saturday and ran up Rocky Mountain yesterday surrounded the hill Sunday night. The latest reports indicate the fire is moving northwest toward Buzzard Mountain, but the containment strategy of constructing hand lines around the area remains the same. According to the state Commission of Forestry, the fire grew […]

A late Saturday night police chase thru Walhalla ended when the pickup truck flipped sideways at a highway 28/Highlands Highway curve.  The incident ended with a deputy sheriff filing traffic and drug charges against the man identified as the pickup driver.  A Sheriff’s Office report shows Patrick Rowland Standridge charged with failing to stop for a blue light, driving under […]

Unless we get significant rain soon, the fear is that the Tugaloo River arm of Lake Hartwell will dry up to a trickle–as this photograph taken near the 123 South Carolina-Georgia crossing suggests.

The Seneca Lions Club is pleased to announce that the club, with the generosity of the public, has made strides in its goal of eyesight conservation.  This year the club bought 65 pairs of glasses and, with the help of a local eye doctor, has so far designated 35 people as recipients.  According to Lions Club member Jim Atkinson, eyeglass […]