Category: News

The agencies involved in the search and recovery efforts for Thomas Hill of Tampa, Fla., are reaching out to other organizations, agencies, companies and wild and scenic river managers across the country to get input on other options for the recovery of Hill’s body.“Right now, we’re doing everything we can with the tools we have to recover Mr. Hill,” said […]

Independence Day is right around the corner, and with it comes one of the busiest times of the year for recreation on the lakes. With thousands of people expected to visit the lakes this weekend, the Army Corps of Engineers reminds everyone to play it safe on the water. Among the important safety tips are to wear a properly-fitted, U-S […]

96.3/WGOG NEWS has learned that a former Walhalla teacher and wrestling coach is scheduled for a court appearance this afternoon. Court officers tell us that Richard “Trey” Gardner III of Kershaw is scheduled for a 2 o’clock appearance in the General Sessions Court. With help from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee deputies arrested Gardner in September. He was taken […]

Financial businessman Lowell Macher assumes the presidency today of the Seneca Rotary Club. Because of next week’s holiday, today’s meeting of the club will be the last until July 11—when Sheriff Mike Crenshaw is scheduled to speak.

A new instance of the passing of counterfeit money in Oconee County prompts the Sheriff’s Department to warn unsuspecting businesses. The latest occurrence was Monday at McDonald’s, at 1305 Sandifer Boulevard, Seneca. There, a drive-thru customer gave the cashier a fake $10 bill. That fake bill is now evidence and part of a continuing investigation. Other cases were May 26 […]

Over the next 12 months, Seneca projects in excess of $45 million will come to and from the city. And tonight at City Hall the Seneca’s various budgets get an airing out for a public hearing. Tax and rate increases are figured in the proposed budgets. The hearing begins at 6 o’clock, and everyone is invited. According to Joel Seavey, […]

Swiftwater rescue teams from Columbia and Lexington County continued efforts yesterday to find the body of Thomas Hill. A search dog from the Oconee Sheriff’s Office also worked at the scene. And that search dog indicated Hill may still be in the Five Falls area. According to Scott Loftis, Incident Commander, divers will do more work in that area today. […]

An Oconee jury found a 40-year old Walhallan guilty today of distribution of methamphetamine second offense. The judge ordered Gregory Lee Murphy to prison for 25 years suspended on the service of seven and a half year years and five years probation. Murphy, who was arrested by the Oconee Sheriff’s Department last summer, took the stand in his own defense. […]

An elderly Walhalla man reported by the police as the victim of a case of abuse or neglect died today in the hospital. Coroner Karl Addis says Curtis Howard Orr died at 3 this morning at the Oconee Medical Center. Orr had been hospitalized since June 18 when the city police conducted a welfare check at the 72-year old man’s […]

As fatigue and disappointment start to set in, responders say they remain resolute in their efforts to return Thomas Hill home to his wife and children. “Some people have been supporting this effort for more than a week, sometimes as many as 16 hours a day, so of course they’re tired,” said Incident Commander Scott Loftis. “But that doesn’t lessen […]