Author: Dick Mangrum

A new agreement with the county provides higher compensation for Westminster, and Oconee’s third largest municipality will use the additional monies to create three new firefighting positions.  That was a city council decision last night. Kevin Bronson, city administrator, says, “The new agreement increases the compensation from Oconee County to the City from $285,000 annually to $550,000 annually.”  By adding […]

If you see police squad cars at the Seneca High School today, the sheriff’s office wants you to know it’s a scheduled active attack drill — no public action required.  This practice event takes place on fall week break — the public schools are in recess.

Casey Bowling, Seneca’s police chief, reported this morning one man in custody — the result of a loose dog complaint last night, an incident that escalated and the police received the assistance of the county’s “SWAT” team.  He described the location as a home on Seneca’s north side, on N. Pine at WN 4th.  The county’s expertise was requested, Bowling […]

The leader of Oconee Democrats, Jody Gaulin, says she looked forward to last night’s forum with county councilmen and prepared for it by submitting several of those 118 questions that Oconee County minds wanted to know.  Gaulin’s chief inquiry centered on public education.  If it’s not the top county priority, Gaulin asked, why isn’t it?  It appears that her questions […]

Word from the Seneca city hall.  The city council last night named Katie Cox municipal court judge.

We are getting word this morning of a police presence during the early hours today at a home on Seneca’s N. Pine St. at WN 4th Street.  Chief Bowling says a complaint over a loose dog escalated into a “SWAT” response and one person allegedly firing a shot at a police officer.  However, Bowling says, the suspect surrendered peacefully.

By last evening, according to the Oconee auditor, 2023 property tax bills can be viewed online, and the county treasurer is accepting payments.  The printer has prepared 69,972 tax bills and it’s the hope of Auditor Christy Hubbard those bills be placed in the mail by Friday.  Treasurer Greg Nowell is accepting payments to cover real and personal taxes online, […]

Some of the audience seats were empty, but an Oconee town hall meeting proceeded last night in Walhalla — even though three of the dais chairs, as anticipated, went unfilled.  County councilmen Davis and Elliott fielded questions, while councilmen Durham, Hart, and Mize, true to their positions, stayed away.  This was a non-partisan event, arranged by county Republican Party leaders, […]