Author: Dick Mangrum

In response to needs arising from the April 13 tornadoes and to help alleviate financial and social distancing concerns about securing non-COVID-19 medical care, Clemson University’s Joseph F. Sullivan Center will provide virtual clinic visits at no cost to residents of Oconee County. This is an expansion of services that the Sullivan Center is currently offering to Clemson University employees, […]

COVID-19 put a halt to this year’s General Assembly in Columbia, and that creates complications for Oconee public schools in figuring out how to create a budget for the fast-approaching new government year on July 1. Gloria Moore, the district finance director, says, “The resolutions that both the House and Senate approved say the state minimum teacher salary schedule for […]

Not far from the Lecroy Road, there was an accident this morning on the Bethel Church Road involving a motorcyclist and a deer.  A report from Walhalla Fire Department indicates the motorcyclist was not injured.  It’s assumed the deer was killed.

In this year’s primary, a contest is guaranteed for the office of Oconee Sheriff between the two-term incumbent Mike Crenshaw and one of his employees, Amanda Tinsley, an officer in the criminal investigations division. Both are matched up in the June Republican primary, with the winner’s name to go on the November ballot. There is no Democrat or other party […]

At the start of tonight’s meeting of Oconee school trustees, Chairman Jerry Lee quoted the state superintendent as saying that it’s unlikely the school year can be re-opened before the scheduled dismissal dates.  Currently, all South Carolina public schools are closed through April 30.  Trustees also heard at tonight’s meeting that the inability of the state General Assembly to give […]

An explanation has been received by 101.7/WGOG NEWS as to why yellow tape surrounded a large piece of electric power apparatus yesterday between Seneca and Clemson.  According to Terry Ballenger, spokesman for Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, a distribution line off 123, the Seneca-Clemson corridor, near the Wells Highway, was damaged by the April 13 tornado.  “We had a way of […]

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced 64 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, and 4 additional deaths. This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 4,439 and those who have died to 124. Of those four deaths, one was an elderly individual with underlying health conditions […]

Recognizing the impact of COVID-19’s impact to South Carolina’s economy, Governor Henry McMaster today announced the creation of accelerateSC, a coordinated economic revitalization plan involving small and large business leaders, healthcare professionals, local government officials, and education professionals. The plan consists of five components of analysis and effort: Response, Protection, Governance, Resources, and Information. James Burns, a partner at the […]

Amy Kinard, a patient at Prisma Health, was able to “see” her husband Tony for the first time in a week last Friday, thanks to an innovative initiative to help equip patients with iPads so they can keep in touch with families and loved ones despite current visitation restrictions. Mrs. Kinard, hospitalized and needing liver and kidney transplants, used the […]

Telephone and internet service has been restored to the administrative complex of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority at Seneca.  Last week’s EF3 tornado took down the communication services.  The JRSA this morning resumed operations; however, physical access to the offices continues to be restricted to control the spread of COVID-19.