Category: News

An Oconee County public school student gained honorable mention in this year’s Project Sentry Logo Contest, sponsored by the U-S Attorney’s Office in South Carolina. A certificate of appreciation and a ribbon went to Oakway Intermediate School’s Lilly Smith, who competed in the grades 3-5 division. The statewide contest gives South Carolina students a chance to tell the entire state […]

Alabama concerns are pursuing a 40-unit apartment complex at the edge of Seneca city limits and are requesting the city to annex the 19.45 acres involved. A city planning commission hearing May 20 will take up the annexation and the designation of a zoning classification to cover the property at 336 Maple Grove Road, near E. Perkins Creek Road. According […]

Oconee County’s unemployment rate fell to 7.9% in March, from the February rate of 9%. The number of employed Oconeeans was 29,037 and the unemployed totaled 2,482. The Department of Employment and Workforce reported the state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 8.4% in March from February’s 8.6%. Across the state unemployment numbers are at the lowest level since the recession […]

Two long-time physicians in the Seneca-Clemson area have joined the board of directors of Playsafe. The non-profit organization provides certified athletic trainers to secondary schools and community athletic events in Oconee, Anderson and Pickens counties. Among Playsafe’s newest board members are Dr. John McRoberts, Clemson dentist since 2000, and Dr. Larry Bowman, team physician for Clemson University for 25 years.

Significant cuts in federal spending are leading the Savannah District, U-S Army Corps of Engineers to close one primitive campground and partially close six day use areas for the 2013 season. Service reductions affecting the Oconee-Pickens area include partial closing of the Friendship Day Use Areas. Mullins Ford and Lawrence Bridge Recreation Areas will be operated as pack-in/pack-out areas. The […]

An Oconee state lawmaker has been recognized in Columbia for his support of public school choice. At an event at the steps of the Statehouse, Representative Bill Sandifer received a golden apple award from the South Carolina Chapter of Public School Options. The organization quoted the Seneca Republican as saying, “One of the best pieces of legislation that I have […]

Congressman Jeff Duncan and the Department of Homeland Security Director, Janet Napolitano, engaged in a contentious question-answer session about a person of interest in the Boston terrorism attack. That person of interest was eventually cleared of any involvement, according to Duncan, the Third District representative from South Carolina. But Duncan questioned Napolitano about an apparent decision to deport the individual […]

An Oconee jury found the defendant not guilty this afternoon on both charges. Melissa Dawn Ramey walked speedily out of the courtroom, proclaiming her innocence and faith in the judicial system. The jury found the 37-year old woman not guilty of grand larceny and burglary at a Long Creek farm caretaker’s home in 2011. Ramey paused long enough to tell […]

Oconee County investigators believe a motor home near Seneca was set on fire this week—but not before more than one thousand dollars worth of contents were stolen. The Sheriff’s Office seeks your help to solve the crimes of arson and larceny at Ashley Lane—not far from Reedy Fork Baptist Church. The Wednesday morning fire, just before 6:30, destroyed two-thirds of […]

Oconee County teacher Lori Chappelear has been named South Carolina Ambassador for the National Down’s Syndrome Society. In that capacity, Chappelear will serve as liaison between the national society and the South Carolina General Assembly. She and her husband, Dan, have a son, Brock, who is a 15-year old student at Walhalla Middle School. The Chappelears made made it their […]