Category: News

Since May, 25 cases of COVID-19 have been counted among Oconee’s jail population.  Jimmy Watt, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, says, “That does not mean we have 25 cases right now, but those are the number of confirmed cases beginning in May of this year.”  Lt. Chapman, the jail director, says precautions followed include no on-site visits by out-reach groups […]

A man who admitted he was under the influence of drugs pleaded guilty to burglarizing the Goodwill store near Seneca and setting fire to a trailer behind the building.  The crimes occurred August 11, 2020, and yesterday William Mark Mize met his fate in the Oconee General Sessions courtroom.  Judge Sprouse had one question for Mize:  Why did he do […]

The Oconee County death count from COVID-19 posted today at 239 individuals—228 of which the state health agency considers confirmed death cases.  Eleven of the 239 are considered probable COVID deaths.  The latest 24-hour count shown today included three Oconee County residents for the count by 11:59 Monday night.

City workers closed part of Seneca’s S. Walnut Street today to dig under the asphalt to correct a sewer issue.  City officials say they are unsure how long S. Walnut, between Daniel Avenue and Mormon Church Road, will be closed to thru traffic.  Detour signs are in place.  While crews are working, motorists should avoid that section of S. Walnut.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced today that the state has suffered its first flu-associated death of the season. “Sadly, an individual from the Upstate region has died from complications due to the flu, our first confirmed influenza-associated death of the season,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist and DHEC’s Director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease […]

The Oconee County Public Library is offering new resources for seniors that are designed for caregivers of loved ones who have dementia or Alzheimer’s. Reminiscence Kits are a curated set of materials that can be checked out from the library and are made specifically to encourage memories of past events and activities that your loved one enjoyed in their younger […]

A deposit of one million dollars-plus has been entered into a city of Walhalla bank of account.  Brandon Burton, city administrator, says $1.1 million of American Rescue Plan money has arrived for Walhalla, and he’s working on how the city council wants to use that money.  It’s likely that the city’s utilities infra-structure will benefit, including work on the Walhalla-Westminster […]

A nutrient that’s advantageous for spreading on soil is offered at no charge this week by the U-S Forest Service in Oconee County.  Free horse manure can be had first-come, first-served from the Whetstone Horse Camp during daylight hours–8:30 am to 4:30 pm, 7 days a week.

The cities of Seneca, Clemson, and Pickens have boards of architectural review.  Last night Walhalla city council entertained the idea that a board of architectural review could enhance the city’s efforts re-vitalize, yet keep a hold on some of its historic homes and buildings.  They were given ideas by Jennifer Vissage, a staff member of “A-COG”, the region’s government service […]

After a closed-door meeting, Walhalla City Council gave its administrator the authority to line up a legal advisor as the city potentially could find itself in court defending itself from a fellow municipal member of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  A letter from a Seneca lawyer, containing threat of legal action, is creating discord between Seneca and the cities […]