Author: Dick Mangrum

Walhalla invites its stakeholders, along with the general public, to share thoughts and ideas that can help shape the city for the next 20 years.  It’s comprehensive plan time for Walhalla.  And tomorrow from 9 am to 3 pm at the Depot on S. College Street the first of four open houses over the next three months will take place.  […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office will host the first “Community Forum” on Tuesday, August 15th at the Auditorium at Seneca High School. The first Forum, which will begin at 6:30pm, will focus on Active Shooting and how citizens can protect themselves should they encounter an active shooter. “Active shooting incidents are on the minds of everyone due to several factors […]

An application to vary from Oconee’s sign rules near Seneca raises questions whether a large property of grassland and woodland on the Sandifer Boulevard is on track to be commercially developed.  Letters have been sent to property owners within 250 feet of 1810 Sandifer Boulevard — property that’s believed to be in the hands of a North Carolina development company.  […]

Only hours remained this morning for any Walhallan to take the plunge to compete for an open seat on the six-member city council.  When we checked, no one had yet qualified, but we’re told in a phone call an individual was asking questions about what’s involved.  What’s involved is someone to run for the seat vacated by the Tyler Jordan […]

A motorcyclist, not yet publicly identified, was reported in serious condition after a chase yesterday afternoon by Georgia state troopers.  WLHR Lake Hartwell Radio in Lavonia received the following account from Sgt. Ray Dean of Post 52:  “At approximately 1:50p, Troopers from Post 52 (Hartwell) attempted to stop a blue motorcycle for speeding (91 mph in a 70 mph zone) […]

Public safety personnel often are called to Oconee County parks and lake access areas for one reason or another.  They now, on their off time, are being granted free day-use entry to the parks and access areas managed by the county Parks, Recreation and Tourism.  However, regular rates for facility rentals and camping still apply. Amanda Brock, county administrator, says […]

A Greenville County man remained jailed in Oconee yesterday after his arrest during a sex crime investigation at a rural home near Seneca.  According to the Oconee Sheriff’s Office, Taylors resident Tahrik Shalil Ellerbe is under arrest on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.  Deputies began an investigation at a Brown Farm Road home after a family member […]

On closer inspection, the dead animal beside the highway between Westminster and Toccoa was identified as a wild hog–estimated to have weighed 300 pounds.  The victim yesterday of an apparent motor vehicle strike, the wild hog bled out on U-S 123, the Westminster-Toccoa Highway.  Travis Collins of the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department says the section of 123 between Arve’s Landing […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has worked with school district personnel to install biometric gun safes in each of the 18 schools in the School District of Oconee County. “During the January 2023 meeting of the School Board, the Sheriff’s Office made a presentation to the Board in regard to installing these biometric gun safes in each of the 18 […]

Because of the effect it has on communities, Salem’s Lynne Martin opposes school closings.  She has taken a look at the proposed Oconee School District long-range building plans.  For now, however, she has balked at choosing one plan over another.  That’s after discovering, she said, that a vote in favor of Plan A or Plan B would close both the […]