The first level of drought

Cool, but dry sunny days are hailed by local residents.  But coupled with pleasant fall weather is the concern for a lack of rainfall.  The state committee that monitors conditions has placed 23 counties — including Oconee, Anderson and Pickens — as incipient drought counties.  Much of the northern half of the state is experiencing mild drought conditions.  As designated […]

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On the trail for development, with ag on his mind

A report given last night by Oconee’s economic development recruiter indicates Jamie Gilbert, hot on the trail of employers to create jobs, is mindful of the role agriculture plays, along with consideration that the pursuit of economic development should not conflict farmers’ ability to make a living.  Gilbert expressed to the county council that, as the county works to develop […]

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Four dogs attack motorcyclist

A motorcyclist says, while on his bike, he was attacked by four dogs. Thomas Watford went before the Oconee County Council last night to complain about dogs running wild throughout the county and to appeal for something to be done.  Watford said he learned through Animal Control that, so far, in 2023 there have been 63 cases of dogs biting […]

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A thought from Stephen Dow on school building plan

Lynn Martin believes a school that is maintained as well as Tamassee-Salem Elementary shouldn’t be abandoned.  Another speaker at last night’s school board meeting, Stephen Dow, presented his thoughts to the trustees — three pages long.  Under a paragraph titled, “Responsibility to Maintain”, he writes:  “There is a certain responsibility that comes with building a large structure like a school, […]

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SC DOT reps respond to highway 130 planned home development

A question aired during last night’s Oconee Planning Commission meeting:  Can the skinny, two-lane highway (SC 130) that skirts Lake Keowee handle traffic for a planned Oconee County home development of potentially of a couple of thousand homes and a population that is being said would exceed Walhalla’s population?  Last night was a chance for the advisory planning commission to […]

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The district conservationist addresses the trustees

Pending by the Oconee school trustees is what to do with the existing Seneca Middle School building and property when it is abandoned next year for the replacement school on the Wells Highway.  Last night the board members received an idea from Mark Fischer, the county’s new district conservationist.  In his capacity, Fischer worries about the increasing development.  Noting that […]

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Grading Oconee schools’ success

Two Walhalla principals told the county trustees they are determined to improve the scores their schools received in last week’s statewide school report cards.  Scott Dixon is not satisfied that his Walhalla Middle School ranking dropped to “good” from “excellent”.  And Jennifer Crawford of Walhalla High conceded her school has room to grow, having been scored “average.”  Andy Smith, assistant […]

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Eddie Martin pleads for “three votes to put a stop….”

Dr. Michael Thorsland, district superintendent, sought last night to dispel notions that there’s any animosity toward Tamassee-Salem on the part of the Oconee district administration when it comes to considering whether to close and consolidate the elementary school with Keowee in a new building at another location.  Remarks from a couple of Tamassee-Salem supporters last night seemed to suggest a […]

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