Category: News

As the states’ human population increases, and more people move to the country increasing commuting traffic, so does deer-vehicle collisions. Drivers throughout the state should be cautious of roaming white-tailed deer throughout the year, especially during the rut or breeding season, typically from October to November. Studies show that about 45% of deer-vehicle collisions occur during this time as deer […]

In this pandemic season, more people took in Walhalla’s Christmas parade by a live Facebook video than did in-person.  Numbers of Saturday’s parade watchers, we’ve gathered, indicate 1,800 people watched on Facebook and an estimated 600 watched the parade in-person over a six-block area of Main Street. About one-half of the in-person parade watchers are believed to have worn facial […]

Two of Oconee’s most prominent waterways were re-stocked with trout last month and that, according to the South Carolina DNR, should provide the fisherman and the fisherwoman ample opportunity to reel in rainbow, brook and brown trout newly-stocked in both the Chauga and the Chattooga rivers. Each year, a partnership between the DNRs in South Carolina and Georgia, the U-S […]

With Clemson University’s semester already finished, the university is in position to provide free COVID-19 tests for a limited number of community residents.  Starting today and continuing through Friday, December 18, free PCR saliva tests will be offered daily.  Registration is mandatory before arriving.  The online registration portal, along with more information, is available at tig.rs/community-testing.  At first, 150 tests […]

Weekend reports from the state health agency normally reflect smaller COVID-19 numbers.  That’s not the case as the latest surge of the virus appears to be continuing unabated.  In South Carolina’s report yesterday, DHEC noted 2,538 new cases; 43 additional deaths.  The added case count showed 49 new Oconee County cases.  The new deaths included two from Pickens County and […]

A third Oconee County death attributed by the state health agency to COVID-19 has been reported during the first week of December.  The latest death, which occurred Wednesday, was that of an elderly county resident.  In today’s DHEC report, there were 19 virus deaths statewide and 2,715 new cases.  Of those new cases, 65 are documented among Oconee County residents.  […]

A Pickens County celebration will take place Tuesday when a ribbon is cut to open the extension of a major highway.  A 4.5 mile extension of SC 153 from the current terminus at 153 and U-S 123 near Easley to the Saluda Dam Road area is scheduled to be ready for the motoring public around 4 pm Tuesday, after years […]

“Quarantine Guidelines Update Due to updated information from the CDC, the School District of Oconee County has adjusted quarantine guidelines for schools. These guidelines were effective as of Thursday, December 3rd.  Students and staff will now be required to quarantine for 10 days, instead of 14 days, from the last exposure to an individual who tested positive. For those currently […]

Here is a statement this afternoon from South Carolina DHEC: “Today, South Carolina reported the highest number of daily cases than at any time throughout the pandemic, with more than 2,500 new cases of COVID-19. Our state’s hospital systems are becoming increasingly burdened in caring for all of those who are severely suffering from this deadly virus. Nationally, case counts, […]

Some grim numbers today from South Carolina DHEC:  2,470 new cases and 29 new deaths statewide.  Of the new cases, there were 58 from Oconee.  Other numbers show South Carolinians are flocking to be tested.  Total test results reported statewide:  11,569; the positivity was 21.4%.