Author: Dick Mangrum

In the last 12 months, a Dutch packaging company has become a new manufacturer in Oconee’s Industrial and Technology Park on SC 11.  Announcement from CurTec’s Marc Martens, manager, states:  “From May, plastic bulk packaging for the pharmaceutical, specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry will be produced there for the North American market.”  It’s CurTec’s first production operation outside The […]

Part of a rural road connecting Salem and West Union closed this week.  The DOT has blocked off thru traffic crossing the Burnt Tanyard Road bridge where, according to one account received, there’s an “issue with the bridge.”  DOT notified fire departments using that road of the bridge closing

Election time arrives next week inside the multi-county service territory of the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.  All qualified Blue Ridge customers are entitled to cast ballots as part of this year’s annual consumers’ meeting.  Voting will take place during drive-up registration at the Oconee and Pickens offices 7 am to 7 pm Wednesday, April 26 and 7 am to 5 […]

A talked about large property deal, just west of Seneca, has been made official today with the filing in Oconee County of the transaction records.  Changing hands:  nearly 150 acres of grass and woodland on 123/the Sandifer Boulevard, adjacent to Walmart and across from the Better Furniture Outlet.  Sale price:  $5.1 million.  The buyer is a limited liability company (HCBV), […]

A Pendleton man, an Oconee County jail inmate, is getting a court date to resolve the murder charge against him.  The accused, Braxton Earl, has since been unable to attain a bond.  But today Jason Alderman, the deputy solicitor, told 101.7/WGOG NEWS his office will call Earl’s case for trial in June.  The Oconee sheriff’s office in 2021 placed Earl, […]

Oconee County Council was told this week the council’s annual investment in an outside government service agency represents a return of $70.77 for every $1 dollar.  And council members’ comments reflect they appreciate what the South Carolina “A-COG” – the Appalachian Council of Governments—does for the county.  “A-COG’s” executive director Steve Pellisier delivered copies of his agency’s annual report, along […]

Rain or shine on Saturday, a volunteer Salem effort to cleanse the town of litter will take place.  It’s one of a number of litter pick ups scheduled Saturday to mark Earth Day 2023.  There’s still time for you to get involved.  Just call the town hall at 864/944-2819 or Mayor Lynn Towe at 864/723-3263.

The city council in Walhalla agreed on a contract this week to bring change to a one-block section downtown.  It’s the block of S. Catherine, between Main and S. Broad.  Brandon Burton, city administrator, says that one block will be re-striped to accommodate one-lane traffic.  Part of the contract calls for a crosswalk between the city parking lot and the […]

Officers came calling Tuesday to a home near SC 24, the West-Oak Highway, and made an arrest.  It’s at that home, they believe, a sex crime occurred on Monday.  According to the sheriff’s office, 45-year old Charles Lee Hightower is charged with kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct first degree.  An adult female accused Hightower of sexual assault.

Everyone inside a trailer home near the Dr. John’s Road escaped a kitchen fire yesterday afternoon without injury.  The fire occurred at a home on Footprints Trail, south of Westminster.