Author: Dick Mangrum

Fire last night consumed a former cotton mill warehouse in Seneca, in the vicinity of E. Main Street and the Lindsay Road. The cause of the fire remains unclassified but, according to the Seneca Fire Department, homeless people had frequented the building.  It’s believed the fire may be connected to a burn barrel used to stay warm.  The fire call […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help today in locating a missing Westminster man. 47 year old Kendall Todd Hawkins was last seen on December 12th of this year after leaving the residence of a family member in Salem. Mr. Hawkins’ vehicle was reportedly located at an address on Whitworth Circle in Seneca on that same date and […]

Wayne McCall, the Oconee County councilman, remains optimistic that an inter-government cooperative effort will allow for health care to once again be administered from a large county building that once served as the Oconee County Health Department. McCall is targeting the large building that sits one block behind the county courthouse in Walhalla to be re-fitted as a low cost […]

Deputy Sheriffs across Oconee County have something new in their arsenal that’ll help children involved in traumatic events. Thanks to the Duke Energy Corporation, deputies will have stuffed animals in their squad cars to be given to children at the scene of serious service calls. The stuffed animals arrived in boxes personally packed by Duke workers. Some of them comes […]

Especially proud of Sarai Melendez rise in Walhalla government circles is Evelyn, Lugo, president of the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Being the founder and the president of the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce makes me very proud of her and this community that has given her the opportunity to serve a great community that is the town […]

A daughter of immigrant parents, Sarai Melendez can now sit on the governing body of her city, Walhalla. Like the other winners in the November election, Melendez takes an oath to “equally, fairly, and impartially” exercise her duties as a city council member. The ascension of the community activist was celebrated by several friends and family members. Judge Danny Singleton […]

Bill Whitmire, state lawmaker and former mayor, declares that Walhalla is “no longer a pass-thru town.” Rep. Whitmire told the crowd last night at the Center for Performing Arts that Walhalla is a “destination.”  The occasion for his remarks was a celebration of sorts in which three men and one woman accepted the oaths of office to start four-year terms […]

Sample results confirm E. coli bacteria levels are back to normal at Duck Pond Reservoir following a sewer spill that occurred on December 23. An advisory was issued by the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority (OJRSA) following the release that alerted those in the area to avoid contact with the creek at Flat Rock Road near Walhalla as a precaution. […]

The Joint Regional Sewer Authority at Seneca and its contractor, Tugaloo Pipeline, continue to work to repair a broken sewer line adjacent to Coneross Creek near the Richland community of Oconee County. The 30-inch pipe to be used for the permanent repair is expected to arrive by Wednesday and construction should be complete by Friday evening. The OJRSA responded to […]