Category: News

Former Governor David Beasley returns next month to his alma mater, Clemson University, to keynote the first Food, Packaging and Sustainability Summit, hosted by Sonoco “FRESH’.  The event will take place virtually at the university February 24-26. Beasley serves as executive director of the U-N Nations World Food Programme and is assisted by former 3rd District Rep. Gresham Barrett.  Last […]

Bad weather in winter tends to have a corresponding effect on the numbers of blood donors, but the blood collection center for the Golden Corner says you can counteract that by stepping forward to help ensure an adequate blood supply.  Donating blood is considered a civic duty, as Prisma Health Oconee Memorial and nearby hospitals rely on the region’s Blood […]

Oconee County has been chosen to receive $22,985 in federal funds thru “FEMA” under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program 38.  According to the United Way of Oconee, a local board of directors for the program will meet to decide how the monies are to be distributed among emergency food and shelter programs run by local organizations.  Only […]

The city of Westminster expresses sadness and mourns the death of a former mayor.  Ed Watkins, a Main Street grocery store operator, died Tuesday at the Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital.  During three different periods in the 1960s and ’70s, Watkins served as city councilman and mayor.  Current Mayor Brian Ramey said, “I have known Mr. Ed for most of […]

A 50-year old Salem man was arrested early Wednesday on three traffic charges, including hit and run accident with property damage.  Both the highway patrol and the sheriff’s office investigated an accident Tuesday afternoon on the Stamp Creek Road, from which Clayton Randall Littleton was charged with hit-run, reckless driving, and malicious injury to personal property.  A second driver, who […]

The state health agency confirms three new Oconee County deaths from COVID-19.  All were elderly individuals, whose deaths came December 16 and 31 and January 1.  Statewide, the new, 24-hour death toll was 51.   New cases confirmed throughout South Carolina today numbered 3,935, including 54 Oconeeans.  Of 11,500 test results received statewide, the positivity was 34.2%.

A Westminster area man was jailed today charged with four crimes December 16, an investigation begun when a county deputy was called to a Durham Brown Road, Fair Play home in response to the report of a shooting.  The sheriff’s office announces the following four charges against William Roger McGuffin, 42 years old:  armed robbery; petty larceny; assault and battery […]

Jeff Duncan, South Carolina’s 3rd District representative, calls on law enforcement to find the perpetrators and prosecute them “to the fullest extent.”  In a statement today, Republican Duncan defends himself against critics who’ve called for his expulsion from Congress for signing legal briefs to support election integrity and for voting to object to the electors.  “I am following a constitutionally […]

Three Walhalla High students have made the latest list of COVID-19 reported within the Oconee School District.  Thirteen cases were placed on the district’s tracking page, effective yesterday.  Besides three Walhalla High students:  three from West-Oak High; two from Westminster Elementary; two from Ravenel Elementary; and one from Northside Elementary.  From Blue Ridge Elementary:  one student and one employee.

Three members of Oconee’s five-member board of school trustees gather privately tomorrow to interview applicants for the position of administrative assistant to the superintendent and board of trustees.  At the end of the month, Shannon Gibson will transfer to the job of director of procurement.  Gibson succeeds Scott Orr, who is leaving to go to work for another school district.