Author: Dick Mangrum

In the estimation of Westminster Mayor Brian Ramey, the crowds for last week’s South Carolina Apple Festival were the largest since COVID-19 interrupted the event in 2020.

The Oconee Soil and Water Conservation District has set plans for the annual Celebration of Agriculture Banquet.  The $12 dollar a person event takes place at 6 o’clock Thursday night, October 26 at the South Union Baptist Church.  It’ll be an evening of fellowship, presentations and awards for local agricultural producers, a catered meal, and prizes. Tickets may be purchased […]

“…my heart is with Bobcat Nation.”  That’s how Brooke Davis describes her move from the job as specialist in district technology to return to Seneca High to be that school’s new assistant principal.  Davis, a 2006 Seneca High graduate, taught math and coached softball at the school for ten years.

A meeting has been held, but leaders of Oconee’s Joint Regional Sewer Authority remain curious about county government’s plans for the sale of bonds that could generate up to $25 million dollars – at least a part of which could be applied to sewer work.  From what Brian Ramey, the JRSA board chairman, told his board yesterday county government is […]

Across the meeting table yesterday, the board of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority talked about who should bear the burden of sewer required for new Oconee County development – residential, commercial, and industrial.  And judging what the commissioners had to say it appears they’ll support increased impact fees from developers, in place of higher rates for the retail customers of […]

Seven supporters of the Tamassee-Salem Elementary School urged Oconee school trustees to lay aside any notion of closing the Salem area’s last public school and consolidating the grades with Keowee Elementary students at a new location.  It’s the second straight month that trustees have heard the pleas.  Lynne Martin last night told the trustees they should thank her for alerting […]

The three reservoirs on the Upper Savannah River declared the first drought level on Sunday — in reaction to the pool elevation at the Strom Thurmond Lake dipping below 326.0 feet above mean sea level.  Entering Drought Trigger Level 1 activates the drought management plan of the Corps of Engineers which conserves water in the lakes by reducing the outflows […]

Long-time Keowee Fire Chief Brandon Shirley has made retirement plans.  Donn Chamberlain, chairman of the Keowee Fire Commission, says Shirley retires at the end of the year and will be succeeded by department Capt. Kris Childress.