Author: Dick Mangrum

A new budget is in place for the Oconee County town of Salem.  This time the budget exceeds $7.5M, and Ryan Hardin, the town administrator, traces the higher figure to projects for which Salem has acquired outside grants.  The town will ask its customers to pay, on average, an additional one dollar on their water bills.  Asked to identify a […]

President Biden says, “I’m proud of my son” in response to questions about Hunter Biden’s agreement to a plea deal.  Hunter Biden would plead guilty to a pair of tax-related misdemeanors, and to enter a pretrial diversion agreement that would enable him to avoid prosecution on one felony gun charge.  Among the Republicans who are unhappy are House Speaker Kevin […]

Two people required trips to the hospital after a two-car accident around the noon hour yesterday at Walhalla’s S. College Street and Booker Drive.

In recent days, Danny Cooper is one of a number of Oconee County employees who’ve quit.  He has found a higher paying job, but at last night’s county council meeting he conveyed his frustration over having to support his family on a salary based on a pay rate of $12.12 an hour.  After telling the council that he enjoyed his […]

Long time Walhalla Mayor Danny Edwards is departing for the political sidelines.  During city council’s June meeting, Edwards announced he will not be a candidate for re-election in November.  He said, “I truly appreciate the citizens of Walhalla giving me the opportunity to serve in my hometown.  I would also like to thank all the council members I have served […]

A jury in Oconee General Sessions Court returned a quick verdict – of guilty.  Beth Blundy, assistant solicitor, said the jury found Tony Avella Sanders convicted on both charges:  burglary third degree and petty larceny.  From Judge McIntosh came a sentence of five years in prison, suspended to three years in prison, followed by probation and a directive that Sanders […]

City of Clemson’s public works crew will train next week on painting new crosswalks on College Avenue in front of the Circle K.  Starting at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, June 27 each lane will be blocked off for 30-45 minutes.  They won’t need to close the entire College Avenue.

In Day 2 of SC vs. Tony Sanders at the Oconee Courthouse, four sheriff’s officers testified for the prosecution, and a couple of them identified Sanders and a second man thru a camera photograph as carrying away possessions from a storage facility on SC 183, the Westminster Highway.  Sanders is being tried on the charge of burglary third degree and […]

One of two Oconeeans arrested on charges of fugitive from justice from Rabun County, Georgia has been also charged with attempting to escape from jail.  The spokesman for the Oconee sheriff says the attempted escape charge was filed against 31-year old Lewis Ray Stewart.  According to Master Deputy Jimmy Watt, Stewart tried to gain freedom yesterday morning by squeezing through […]