Author: Dick Mangrum

The Clemson University Palmetto Poll recently gathered data from South Carolina residents to gauge their concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the state and national response to it. Steven V. Miller, an associate professor in Clemson’s political science department who designed the survey, said that in addition to providing a general glimpse into residents’ concerns with the pandemic, the survey revealed major […]

A Walhalla restaurant’s busy drive-thru has only gotten busier during the COVID-19 pandemic. The added business, however, means increased work for the cooks and the order takers at Bantam Chef. But their work has not gone without appreciation. A man and his wife showed their appreciation last week by surprising Bantam Chef owner Tina Chastain with an envelope of money […]

In the opinion of South Carolina’s 3rd District representative, the “Heroes” act is anything but.  The House of Representatives’ new $3 trillion relief package makes essential workers eligible for hazard pay and offers direct help to state governments, but Republican Jeff Duncan claims it bails out blue states and is an excuse to advance a “radical, left wing agenda.”  Duncan […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on Sunday announced 163 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and 5 additional deaths. This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 8,816 and those who have died to 385. Four of those deaths occurred in elderly individuals in Dillon (1), Horry (1), […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced 232 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and nine additional deaths. This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 8,407 and those who have died to 380. Eight of those deaths occurred in elderly individuals in Cherokee (1), Clarendon (1), […]

At the top the hour (10 am) Prisma Health in Seneca starts four hours of off-site testing for COVID-19.  The location is the back parking area of the Blue Ridge Elementary School.  These screenings are designed to test for the disease and do not require a doctor’s order.  The tests are being given over a four-hour period today and are […]

Oconee Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, a candidate for re-election, says he is going stick by the statement that he made, although the statement is not an endorsement or a suggestion of endorsement for any other candidate in any other race. “I had made the statement that during my eight years as Sheriff and, really, my whole career that I’ve worked with […]

Whether you call it a fee or a tax, a suggestion that’s included in the proposed new budget for Walhalla would create a fund for the city to pay for transportation and infrastructure projects. The suggestion received by the mayor and the council at their budget workshop is a $30 dollar annual road fee that would be paid by the […]

Oconee County is expected to look to the federal government for a six-figure grant to further organize the county effort to combat the scourge of substance abuse. An application for a grant of up to $600 thousand occupies a big part of the agenda for the Tuesday night, May 19 county council meeting. The council is being told of the […]

The Oconee Regional Airport has a chance to help make up revenues lost to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. At its meeting next week, the county council will be asked to ratify and authorize the county administrator’s application for a “CARES” act grant for the airport. It’s possible the airport could be approved for a grant of up to […]