Category: News

Oconee County is now a right-to-life county after a new resolution declaring such received the support of all five county councilmen—even though there were competing emotions from last night’s meeting audience between those on the sides of pro-life and pro-choice.  Earlier this year a separate resolution to make the county a sanctuary for the unborn failed by one vote, with […]

New cases statewide:  474 (eight in Oconee) New deaths statewide: 2 (for the week Oct. 10-16 SC DHEC noted six Oconee deaths and probable deaths of individuals in the age categories of young adult, middle age, and elderly) Of 14,248 test results, the new positivity:  5.10% (These are data reflecting the count made at the end of the day Sunday)

During International Charity Fraud Awareness Week, the South Carolina secretary of state has announced a new Wise Giving Report and a Give Smart Watch List.  That official, Mark Hammond, is hopeful that South Carolinians will use the tools offered by his office to make wise giving decisions.  On his Give Smart Watch list, Hammond calls attention to 10 organizations that […]

Oktoberfest was last weekend, but the events are not over.  This Saturday there’ll be a merchant market and crafts day in downtown Walhalla.  To accommodate the booths and all the browsers and shoppers, the city will close off part of Main Street to vehicle traffic.  The police say starting around 6 to 7 Saturday morning, the eastbound lanes of Main […]

Walhalla’s Durham Hall was the scene and Amanda Brock, the county administrator, the guest speaker when the Oconee Public Library paid tribute to its volunteers.  At that October 14 event, Nancy Churchwell received the Lucile Bellotte Moore Award and Cyndy Clausen, the Sarah Mills Norton Award.  Blair Hinson, library director, says the library system depends on volunteers, such as those […]

A public information meeting today will center on the prospects that a Georgia company will open a rock quarry near Lavonia.  Vulcan Materials is holding a meet and greet this afternoon with people living near the proposed location for the quarry, highway 59 near the Lavonia city limit.  The company spent $3.5 million for 225 acres there.  Lake Hartwell Radio […]

In a city hall meeting, it was not lost on Rosemary Bailes and other members of Walhalla Planning Commission that, if things pan out in the next couple of years, visitors to the city will get the chance to book a room one block off Main Street, take in a performance, and make a short walk to restaurants in the […]

A mid-afternoon mishap yesterday on SC 11 near the 123 interchange.  A pontoon boat dislodged from a trailer and flipped over.

COVID-19 Test percentage positivity during a three-day period last week ranged between 4.7% and 5.5%.  For each day Thursday-thru-Saturday–South Carolina DHEC counts–showed total daily cases below one thousand.  New confirmed deaths were six on Thursday; 22 Friday; and 42 Saturday, which included one Oconeean.

Amanda Brock, Oconee County administrator, acknowledges there are additional properties in the packet for today’s annual delinquent tax sale.  And, she says, COVID and the hard economic times are likely to be factors contributing to that.  It’s a well-attended sale—with potential bidders parking cars, trucks, and even a motorcycle in the parking lot of the Center for Performing Arts Center, […]