Category: News

Following a review by retired auditor Christy Hubbard that uncovered initial calculation inconsistencies, the Oconee County Council reduced the county operations and debt millage rate to 70.2 mills to offset property value increases from the reassessment year. While property reassessments showed average increases of 7% to 9% (with a statutory cap of 15%), county officials noted that a higher reassessed […]

The Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority (OJRSA) Board and the city of Walhalla are working to reduce or eliminate sewer-related fees for seven businesses displaced by the September 17 downtown fire as they relocate. While legal counsel noted that a direct blanket fee waiver presents policy issues, officials are exploring alternative solutions such as appropriating reserve funds, deferring invoice generation, […]

Following a loss of system pressure, the City of Westminster Public Works Department has issued a boil water advisory affecting customers on Coffee Road, Long Creek Highway, Welcome Church Road, Unity Church Road, and Burton Memorial Drive. City officials will test bacteriological samples once water service is restored to ensure safety, a process expected to take about 48 hours. Residents […]

Attorney General Alan Wilson has requested details from Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley regarding the company’s privacy, data sharing, and AI policies within 30 days. Meanwhile, Oconee County has officially terminated its contract—incurring a $2,500 fee and demanding hardware removal within 14 days—after its council voted to ban Flock cameras and mass surveillance. Chairman Matthew Durham and council members physically […]

The Pickens County Coroner’s Office, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, is investigating a fatal house fire at 105 Hillrose Lane in Pickens. Deputy Coroners responded to the scene on Monday, October 5, 2026, at approximately 1:45 p.m., where 63-year-old Kelley Leonard Owens of Pickens was pronounced dead. Cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation, with […]

During Monday’s meeting, the Clemson City Council held an affordable housing work session, unanimously approved revised public hearing guidelines, and reviewed three proposed zero-fee parking permit programs designed to ease downtown friction: the Silver Pass Program granting residents 67 and older two hours of daily free parking, the Funeral Services Pass Program providing up to three hours of free parking […]

The Oconee County Council will meet in regular session Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the administrative offices in Walhalla, where members are set to consider a consent agenda featuring the purchase of a 2026 Sany motor grader for the Roads and Bridges Department for nearly $324,000, hold public hearings and third readings on ordinances establishing a […]

Following a parent’s tip on Friday morning, administrators and the school resource officer at Liberty High School investigated three students and recovered a gun from a vehicle parked on campus. District officials confirmed that the weapon was transferred between cars and never entered the school building, allowing normal operations to continue without any threats made, while the Pickens County Sheriff’s […]

Residents of Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee counties may see increased emergency and low-altitude helicopter activity this week (Oct. 5–9) as the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (SC-HART) conducts multi-county training exercises in undisclosed locations. The drills unite state, regional, and local personnel to practice specialized aquatic and mountainous rescue operations. Officials emphasize this is routine, planned training designed to […]

Following this morning’s special called work session at 10am on Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) projects and initial land use and zoning considerations, the Pendleton Town Council will hold its regular session at 6pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Tuesday’s agenda features a public hearing on a settlement agreement for the 79-acre Retreat at Town Creek development, first readings on […]