Category: News

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative members of District One, Oconee County, are invited to a meeting this month to help choose a candidate to represent District One on the utility retailer’s board of directors. The seat available is the one now held by Joel Davis, who is offering for re-election. The meeting will take place at 10 a-m Wednesday, March 20 […]

The office of Circuit Solicitor has announced that Kenneth Wayne Whitworth has been placed in custody. The Salem man is to be brought to Oconee General Sessions Court this morning for the announcement of his sentence. A jury convicted Whitworth yesterday of distribution of methamphetamine third offense. Because he did not attend the two-day trial, Whitworth’s sentence was kept sealed […]

The legal entanglements between former Oconee Sheriff’s candidate James Bartee and his accuser, Nicholas Blackwell, intensified this month with Blackwell’s filing of a civil counterclaim against Bartee . . . and Bartee’s official reply to the counterclaim. The latest filings in the Common Pleas Court arise from a January lawsuit by Bartee, alleging Blackwell set him up, leading to Bartee’s […]

A 54-year man has been sent to prison for four years for a case that the prosecutor called a serious beating. Charles Allen Vinson walked into the Oconee courtroom this afternoon charged with criminal domestic violence high and aggravated nature. The judge accepted a negotiated plea that allowed Vinson to plead to assault and battery first degree. Assistant solicitor Blair […]

An Oconee jury convicted a 40-year old Salem man today on the charge of distribution of methamphetamine third offense. Because Kenneth Wayne Whitworth did not attend the trial, the sentence written down by Judge Alex Macaulay will remain sealed until Whitworth is located and read the sentence. Assistant Solicitor Lindsey Simmons, whose prosecution won the verdict, said she considered an […]

‘Tis the season in Oconee for governments to write budgets for next year. Dr. Mike Lucas, Oconee superintendent of education, calls attention today to a ranking that shows of the state’s 46 counties, Oconee taxes seventh lowest in the state. On his blog, Lucas displays a ranking of figures provided to his office by Oconee Auditor Ken Nix. Currently, Oconee […]

This just in from Oconee General Sessions: A jury is deliberating the case of S.C. v. Kenneth Wayne Whitworth, charged with distribution of methamphetamine third offense. When trial began yesterday, defendant Whitworth was absent. But his attorney, assistant public defender Danny Day, asked the jury to not hold his client’s absence against him. For the jury, the prosecution played an […]

A long-time Westminster Library worker is calling it a career. Refreshments will be served at a party at 4 o’clock this afternoon at the Westminster Library for Margaret McCall, who is retiring. It’s an opportunity for fellow library workers and library patrons to wish McCall well.

A chase during the 4 o’clock hour of yesterday morning near Seneca yielded an arrest and the discovery of what officers suspect are illegal drugs. Sheriff’s officers say the object of their chase, a Ford truck with no tag light, reached speeds of 60 miles an hour in the wrong lane of Return Church Road. But at Return Church Road […]

Agricultural education students at Seneca High School attended the South Carolina FFA-sponsored State Legislators Appreciation Ceremony last week in Columbia. They were accompanied by Christina Alexander, instructor and FFA advisor, along with student teacher Jessica Brown. The day began with a visit with State Senator Thomas Alexander, Oconee-Pickens Republican, to thank him for his support of agricultural education. Next, they […]