Category: News

Walhalla’s Lamar Bailes left his Rotary Club meeting today with the state’s highest honor for community service. On behalf of Governor Nikki Haley, State Senator Thomas Alexander bestowed the Silver Crescent award to Bailes recognizing him for government, political, social, and religious work in a public sector career that dates back at least 50 years. Bailes is 77 years old […]

 For the U-S Navy, Walhalla’s Dustin Addis is on duty aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Addis serves in the Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate Seaman. The Nimitz is deployed to the U-S 5th Fleet area of responsibility to conduct maritime security and theater security operations.

The number of World War II veterans remaining in Oconee County continues to elude the staff at the county veterans affairs office. But Jerry Dyar, the director, and his staff are determined to find the answer. The office is asking the public’s help to determine just how many remain in the county from what’s been called the Greatest Generation. “We […]

Dr. Ronnie Booth has marked 10 years as the president of Tri-County Technical College and was so recognized during the recent Annual Report Luncheon. Booth became Tech’s third president in 2003. A proclamation for his leadership and accomplishments was presented during the luncheon by Commission Chairman Ham Hudson, an Oconee County representative on the college policy-making board.

Today’s the day the Seneca Police Department gets better communications. A new telephone system is being installed. And Chief John Covington says it’s a phase of Oconee County’s 9-1-1 project to upgrade systems for compatibility. “This portion of the project is being overseen by Capt. Travis Tilson of the Sheriff’s Office. We are very thankful to the county for the […]

A missionary from Oconee County is anxious to return to the Philippines—land that he has grown to love and where his wife was forced into makeshift quarters because of the typhoon. Billy Owens says he has his ticket to fly and is hopeful that between now and next month the main airport at Manila will re-open for commercial flights. Owens, […]

Walhalla Middle School’s Veterans Day breakfast recognized more than 100 veterans and their spouses. Breakfast was prepared and served by Culinary Art students from the Hamilton Career Center. The 8th grade band, chorus and strings played and performed.

Oconee Sheriff Mike Crenshaw says his office will not talk about an apparent motive for the murder of a Salem man near Seneca. The reason for that, Crenshaw says, is to protect the integrity of the case against Joshua Randall Ferguson. “Further details are not appropriate at this time,” Crenshaw said in a statement. Arrest warrants allege murder and possession […]

The investigation continues as to who killed a 46-year old Salem man last night near Seneca. At 9:30 last night, deputies found Charles Benson Cantrell face down behind a home on Webb Road near the Singing Pines Road. Coroner Karl Addis said Cantrell died of a gun shot and the death is homicide. Sheriff Mike Crenshaw said, “Our investigators worked […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Friday night homicide near Seneca. Deputies say they discovered a man lying face down on the ground behind a home located at 239 Webb Road in the Friendship Community. Deputies made the discovery around 9:30 PM Friday. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis identifies the victim as 46 year-old Charles Benson Cantrell of […]