Author: Dick Mangrum

During a welfare check near Walhalla on Tuesday, a 59-year old man was arrested on an unlawful weapons charge – the result, the sheriff’s office reported – of a previous domestic violence conviction.  The charge was placed against Larry Gene Griffin, 59 years old.  The sheriff’s office announcement reads:  “The deputy discovered Griffin inside a pickup truck on Playground Road […]

Defendant Wade Walker is scheduled to take the stand as the final witness in an Oconee County trial that is a property damage dispute between two sets of Lake Keowee neighbors.  Walker’s wife, Kimberly, testified late yesterday afternoon and engaged in a mild to spirited cross-examination by plaintiff’s attorney Keith Denny.  Denny represents Scott and Annette Balsitis, who claim water […]

  An Oconee County Council proclamation honors Paul Cain of Seneca for years of service as the District Three councilman.  Cain stood down at election time this year, and he’s to be succeeded on council January 1 by Don Mize.  For the record last night, Cain got somewhat emotional with his remarks which amounted to a farewell from his government […]

A 23-year old Seneca woman has been arrested after a a school district employee contacted an investigator with information about what the sheriff’s office called unusual behavior between Emily Hall Tannery and a minor.  As evidence was gathered, according to the sheriff’s office, a determination was made that Tannery exchanged text messages with the child in an attempt to illicit […]

An ambulance has arrived at the scene of a car-motorcycle accident on the 123 Seneca By-Pass in front of Wendy’s Restaurant.  An account from the scene indicates that the motorcyclist was knocked off his bike onto the asphalt pavement.

A publicly un-identified Oconee County project is on a fast track.  The county council met for about one minute at 10 this morning to adopt on second reading an ordinance that creates a fee-in-place-of-tax arrangement with a company code-named “Prepoly”.  Only ten hours or so prior, the council gave first reading.  This morning, after what the county administrator pronounced the […]

Blair Hinson, the Oconee library director, expressed hope this week that an access barrier faced by some of Seneca’s library patrons can be eliminated in the coming months by the construction of a ramp.  Automatic door openings are a feature of the S. 2nd Street library but, to reach the front door, library users have to negotiate a handful of […]

Walhalla has a practically new water treatment plant, but it can’t find replacement operators.  Scott Parris, the utilities director, told his mayor and council once the job responsibilities and the pay are explained to those who’ve answered job postings, they quickly lose interest.  As a result, partly due to retirements, the city’s staff of certified plant operators remains dangerously thin.  […]