Category: News

A 50-year old boater from Pickens has been charged by the DNR with three offenses from a late night accident July 11 on Lake Keowee.  According to authorities, Roy Lee Barrett is charged with felony BUI, no navigational lights, and failure to yield right-of-way in the Fall Creek arm of the lake.  A spokesman for the DNR said the accident […]

The School District of Oconee County will see approximately 74% of students returning to school buildings when school starts on August 24, 2020.  Parents were asked to complete a pre-registration form earlier in the month, choosing from a face-to-face or remote option, SDOC@Home. Preliminary data indicates that of the 8,699 pre-registration forms completed, 6,464 (74%) chose face-to-face, 2,098(24%)  chose SDOC@Home, […]

The police in Seneca have announced the arrest of a 41-year old man who is accused of possession of a stolen moped.  According to police reports the man arrested, John Thomas Walter Campbell, was approached by Officer Welborn at WN 1st and Fair Play streets on Saturday, July 25.  The officer said he received verification that the moped Campbell allegedly […]

A three-way race has been created for one of the available trustee seats in this year’s election to fill Oconee school board seats.  A district spokeswoman says Sammy Grant, a former transportation director for the district and now an employee of Clemson Area Transit, has qualified to contest for Seat #5.  Already running for that seat are the incumbent, Buddy […]

Today’s report on jobless claims shows that, for the first time since pandemic started, South Carolina first-time claims have dropped below 13,000.  And, among the places where there have been fewer claims, is Oconee County.  For the week ended last Saturday, Oconee’s number was 190.  The numbers prompt the director of employment and workforce, Dan Ellzey, to say, “Our economy […]

At this hour a storm, with lightning, has struck the Walhalla High School area, and the outdoor COVID-19 tests taking place there have been suspended at least temporarily.  It remained to be seen if the medical personnel can re-start tests because the event is scheduled to run until 3 o’clock only.  Testing there today apparently got off to a slow […]

A 101.7/WGOG listener to our traffic reports has noticed an increasing number of hit-run accidents reported by the highway patrol … and wonders if there could be a correlation between drivers who text and the numbers of hit-run cases.  Not necessarily, in the view of state troopers.  Their spokesman, Lance Corp. Joe Hovis, says troopers find that there are a […]

We have word from Walhalla High School this morning that at the start of drive-up COVID-19 testing, there were few cars in line–meaning that if you want to take advantage of a free test, this might be a good opportunity.  A school official quoted medical personnel there as saying the crowd is expected to pick up later during what’s planned […]

A strong supporter of nuclear power, the 3rd District congressman is behind a bill that seeks to change the way the government’s watchdog nuclear agency reviews the industry.  The legislation is called “The Modernize Nuclear Reactor Environmental Reviews Act.”  Rep. Jeff Duncan notes that in South Carolina, nuclear power generates nearly 57% of the electricity, with the national average being […]

About two weeks remain in an application period for disaster unemployment assistance for South Carolinians in nine counties, including Oconee and Pickens.  The help is offered through the system of unemployment insurance benefits.  Residents of Aiken, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Hampton, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg, and Pickens are eligible due to “FEMA’s” decision to change the application to include individual assistance in […]